KiK controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2013
Rana Plaza supply-chain controversy
KiK was among the brands linked to garment production in the Rana Plaza building in Savar, Bangladesh, whose collapse caused more than 1,100 deaths and thousands of injuries. The company contributed to the compensation fund and signed the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, but the disaster led to continuing scrutiny of apparel companies’ sourcing oversight.
2009
Complaint over swastika-styled clothing racks
A man in Schleswig-Holstein filed a complaint alleging that KiK store clothing racks resembled swastikas, potentially implicating Germany’s laws on symbols of unconstitutional organizations. KiK rejected the allegation as incomprehensible.
Criticism of supplier wages and labor practices
The Clean Clothes Campaign criticized KiK over labor practices and low wages in supplier countries. KiK stated that its supplier code required compensation at least equal to the applicable legal or industry minimum wage and its CEO called for a higher statutory minimum wage in Bangladesh.
Employee credit-rating and overtime criticism
KiK was criticized over the reported use of nearly 50,000 confidential credit ratings of employees and allegations that overtime was often unpaid. The reference material states that, after Germany introduced a statutory minimum wage, KiK paid staff at least that level.