Officials dispute 'P Diddy' sweatshop claims

An inspection of a factory in Honduras that produces a clothing line for US rap music mogul Sean “P Diddy” Combs did not uncover the kinds of labour abuses alleged by activists, the country’s labour minister said.

German Leitzelar led a group of inspectors on a six-hour visit yesterday of the Southeast Textiles factory in Choloma, 120 miles north of Tegucigalpa.

“I think things have been overblown,” Mr Leitzelar told reporters afterward. “If there are any irregularities, they are not like what was contained in the accusations.”

“We visited the place to find out the truth. On Monday, we’ll present a formal report on the situation.”

The factory’s owner and the head of Honduras’s assembly plant industry have said that claims of sweatshop conditions there were false.

On Tuesday, the director the National Labour Committee, a US-based workers rights group, issued a report alleging poor conditions at the factory.

The director, Charles Kernaghan, said workers are subjected to body searches, 11- to 12-hour daily shifts and mandatory pregnancy tests.

It said they were paid 24 US cents (around 20p) for each 50 dollar (around €43) Sean John sweat shirt they sew.

Combs has promised to investigate the allegations.