According to the Lithuanian Carrier’s Trade Union, a representative of IKEA has said the company’s management are “concerned about the working conditions of drivers in Lithuanian haulage companies.”
In an update posted to its Facebook Page, the Lithuanian Carrier’s Trade Union said the IKEA Group had found “the emergence of media reports in Europe about the use of third-country drivers and slave-like working conditions especially disturbing.”
The IKEA representative is said to have the told the trade union that the retailer is governed by laws and high standards in its operations that ensure good working conditions for employees and contractors – including transportation services.
“Suppliers commit to comply with these requirements by signing an amendment to the contract that provides a condition to terminate the contract if they do not comply with the legal act or company standard” – the representative told the Lithuanian Carrier’s Trade Union.
In order to “defend the transportation service employees,” IKEA has also reportedly offered to cooperate with the Lithuanian Trade Union Alliance and Lithuanian Transport Trade Union.
The company has requested information about any Lithuanian transport companies that violate the rights of employees, discriminate or exploit employees, or do not ensure appropriate salaries or working conditions.
The statement from IKEA comes after the tragic news that a driver from Moldova, who was working for a Lithuanian carrier, took his own life in the loading area of an IKEA store in France.
Photo credit: pxfuel.com
