Cheap, but the price is rights

Among the firms named and shamed by Human Rights Watch (HRW) were British multinationals Tesco and G4S Security, which the NGO alleged had breached international and US labour laws.

HRW said that many European companies publicly profess support for workers' rights but then undermine those rights with aggressive campaigns in their US operations.

In addition to Tesco and G4S, the organisation cited German firms T-Mobile and DHL, French firms Sodexo and Saint-Gobain, Norway-based Kongsberg Automotive and the Dutch firm Gamma Holding.

The charity documented instances of threats to replace striking workers, spying on employee organisers and the dismissal of workers who supported union organisation.

It noted that T-Mobile had branded employees' "talking about rights" as dangerous activity to be reported immediately to management and claimed that Tesco sought to muzzle workers communicating about unions.

HRW spokesman Tom Porteous told the Star: "There is a big gap between the rhetorical commitment to international standards made by these firms and what they practise.

"US labour law is below the international standard to which these companies signed up and is less stringent than EU legislation and poorly implemented.

"These companies are violating international and EU standards but also US labour law."

In Europe legislation exists which underpins the companies' commitment to the international standard and it is possible to litigate, he said, but in the US the firms exploit loopholes.

He said HRW was campaigning to have these loopholes closed and that stronger action by European governments and the European Union was necessary to ensure firms' adherence to international standards.

"One of the things this report shows is that the voluntary commitment to human rights standards is not enough and needs to be backed with stronger legislation," he stated.

Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said: "The total disregard of international labour standards by some of our household-name companies as soon as they venture beyond our shores is an appalling stain on the character of UK business."

He added that anti-union tactics honed in the US are increasingly being imported into British workplaces.

When contacted by the Star a Tesco spokesman said: "These are not new points and yet the allegations are completely untrue.

"We have a strong track record of investing in our people and are committed to making Tesco a great place to work.

"Wherever we operate, all staff are free to join trade unions and we have positive relations with trade unions around the world."

But anti-poverty charity War on Want said it was not surprised by the report as it had evidence of similar practices by Tesco in other countries.

Campaigns officer Simon McRae said: "Our research shows that garment workers supplying Tesco face anti-union harassment in Bangladesh and India.

"Tesco continues to break its pledge to ensure freedom of association, along with decent pay and conditions, for workers in its supply chain. It is high time the British government acted to stop this abuse."