What's At the Bottom of Your Supply Chain?

The Guardian reports today that a group of 'exploited and illegally employed' Bulgarian workers were collecting vegetables (including courgettes) for Tesco (and Morrisons). The paper reports that

"The Bulgarians said they were forced to "live like pigs on scraps", scavenging vegetables from the fields when their Latvian gangmaster withheld their pay for 34 days."

and

"Members of the group of 40 Bulgarians in Cornwall said they had been charged up to €900 (£600) by an agent in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, for cheap bus tickets and the promise of work permits which never materialised. When they arrived in the UK they were handed over to a different agent, Andris Tiltnieks, and his company Baltic Work Team and told to pay an extra £100 or return home."

Every little helps??? When we choose price over quality of food, this sort of action is going to happen!

Interestingly, according to the famous 'Tesco Price Check' site, courgettes cost the same in all of the 'Big 4' supermarkets! (data taken 15/08/07).

Product description	Tesco price	Sainsbury's price	Morrisons price	ASDA price

COURGETTES LOOSE PER KG

£1.98

£1.98

£1.99

£1.98