Rap mogul accused of using sweatshop labour

Sean John, the clothing line of millionaire American rap music mogul Sean P Diddy Combs, is under scrutiny from a workers’ rights group for allegedly using labourers in a Honduran sweatshop.

The director of the anti-sweatshop US National Labour Committee, Charles Kernaghan, was releasing a report today detailing poor working conditions at the Southeast Textiles factory in Choloma, Honduras, where Sean John clothes are made.

Workers there are subjected to daily body searches, contaminated drinking water and 11 to 12 hour daily shifts, the report said. In exchange, they are paid 20c for each €43 Sean John sweat shirt they sew.

Officials with the clothing label said they were unaware of the conditions alleged by Kernaghan.

“We had absolutely no knowledge of the situation however, we take these matters very seriously,” said Jeff Tweedy, executive vice president of Sean John. “We have a director of compliance who will be looking into this matter immediately.”

The study also found women were given mandatory pregnancy tests, and that those who tested positive were fired, Kernaghan said.

The abuses are violations of Honduran labour laws but are rarely enforced for fear of corporate divestment, Kernaghan said. His organisation’s repeated attempts to contact Sean John have gone without a response, he said.

Kernaghan was in New York to release the report with a worker from the factory, 19-year-old Lydda Eli Gonzalez. The two are embarking on a multi-city tour to expose what they say are harsh conditions at the factory.

According to the report, about 80% of the Southeast Textiles factory production is for the Sean John clothing line.

The other 20% is for Rocawear, co-founded by rapper and producer Jay-Z and rap music producer Damon Dash.