Mr Price Group supports the inspections conducted by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, as well as other authorities, into working conditions at clothing factories in the Newcastle area. We welcome legitimate initiatives that expose and hold accountable manufacturers who exploit workers or undermine South African labour, health, and safety laws. Upholding the rule of law is a shared responsibility between government, retailers, and all stakeholders in the value chain. As a value retailer, Mr Price Group remains fully committed to compliance and does not condone the production of merchandise in factories that operate under unsafe or unsanitary conditions.

Accordingly, we have treated this matter with the seriousness it warrants. It is important to note that no Mr Price products were found at the factory referenced in the article, and the factory had no active orders for Mr Price merchandise. While Mr Price labels were identified, we have conducted an investigation to determine how this occurred. Mr Price Group’s values are embedded in our supply chain compliance processes. Factories engaged by our suppliers are subject to independent audits, and our Code of Conduct, together with our commercial agreements, clearly prohibits the practices exposed during the recent Newcastle inspections. These expectations have been firmly reiterated across our entire retail value chain.