TC

Visuals

Audio

Fact check

00:05

Luxury bags - Dior, Montblanc, Gucci, Marni

VO

They’re some of luxury fashion’s biggest names - part of an industry worth more than $200 billion.

https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/luxury-goods/worldwide#revenue

According to Statista, revenue for the entire industry = about 400 bil in 20204. Leather goods = 72 bil. Fashion + leather = more than 200 bil.

0:14

Brands, storefronts

VO

But the glossy storefronts and glamorous displays mask a far grubbier reality.

0:19

Abbas Zaigham

Migrant worker

SOT

Abbas: For two years, I worked without sitting. Working on my feet for 14 hours a day.

0:26

Zain outside Montblanc shop in

SOT

Zain: What Montblanc is doing, I think is really inhuman.

0:30

Protest outside Montblanc shop in Geneva

Upsound

Protestors: Shame on Montblanc! 

0:33

Trekking shots, Tuscany. Exterior of factories.

VO

101 East travels to Tuscany, Italy to meet the migrant workers making some of the world’s most expensive bags

0:41

UC: Privilege and Sophia’s factory - worker handling dangerous machinery.

VO

Working undercover, we gain access to sweatshops hidden inside factory buildings and industrial estates...

Upsound

Worker: If it touches your hand, it will graze your skin,.

0:52

UC footage at Privilege factory

VO

...and discover the brands profiting off these operations...

Upsound

Undercover researcher: What brand is this?

Worker: Dior.

1:00

Protest outside Richemont HQ in Geneva

Upsound

Francesca: They were thrown in the street by your company!

Security guard: I don’t talk to you.

VO

We meet the activists fighting for change.

1:10

Migrants walking towards Z Productions factory, protest outside Z Productions factory

VO

And follow the migrant workers risking everything, to stand up for their rights.

Upsound

Workers: Made in Italy! Shame in Italy!

-           

-          Fade -

-          Fade -

-           

1:19

101 East show ident

101 East show ident

1:24

GVS - Prato old town. Church, town square etc.

VO

Prato is an Italian city 16 kilometres north of Florence.

1:35

Sign pointing to textile museum. Exterior, textile museum

VO

Historically, a centre for textile production, it attracts far fewer tourists than its more famous neighbour.

https://www.cittadiprato.it/EN/Sezioni/437/TEXTILE-DISTRICT/

South Asian, Chinese, African migrant workers in Prato

VO

But over the last few decades, the area has become a magnet for another group of foreigners - migrant workers.

Tens of thousands live here today.

More than ten per cent of Prato’s two hundred thousand legal residents are Chinese.

According to Francesco Nannucci, the head of the police’s investigative unit in Prato, the city is also home to some ten thousand Chinese people who are there illegally.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany

Prato’s authorities estimate the Chinese community at 31,000 (a quarter of whom may be undocumented) out of a total population of 195,000. Its Chamber of Commerce last year counted 5,850 Chinese-owned businesses, often sole traders, 4,280 of them in the textile sector. This (...) https://mondediplo.com/2020/07/10prato

1:55

Abbas Zaigham

Migrant worker

SOT

Abbas: I’m Abbas. I’m Pakistani. I came to Italy in 2015.

VO

Abbas Zaigham came via a circuitous overland route.

He was undocumented when he arrived.

SOT

Abbas: Why did I come here? I came for work and also for money.

2:14

Exteriors of factories

VO

Tuscany is an industrial powerhouse...

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany

2:20

Birdseye view of area

VO

...and a manufacturing hub for some of the world’s biggest fashion brands.

https://www.investintuscany.com/tuscany-environment/

https://www.kering.com/en/news/gucci-supported-by-kering-invests-in-first-circular-hub-to-power-a-circular-made-in-italy/

2:25

Exterior Chinese factories

VO

Since the 1990s, much of the production has taken place inside factories owned by Chinese entrepreneurs.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-chinese-workers-who-assemble-designer-bags-in-tuscany

2:34

Abbas Zaigham

Migrant worker

VO

Abbas found a job in one such facility shortly after arriving in Prato.

He worked six days a week and made less than $3 an hour, producing luxury bags.

2:48

Abbas rolls up trousers, shows us swollen legs

Cover with cutaways of swollen legs

SOT

Abbas: Both my legs hurt. For two years, I was always working without sitting down. On my feet at work for 14 hours. Only one break of 40 minutes each day.

3:01

Exterior Sudd Cobas, interior Luca speaks to workers at meeting

Upsound

VO

Abbas’ life changed after a friend convinced him to join Sudd Cobas - an independent workers’ union active in Prato.

3:23

Abbas Zaigham

Migrant worker

SOT

Abbas: They help the workers. You get contracts for eight hours a day, five days a week.

3:29

Int Sudd Cobas. Meeting about to start. Abbas chatting with union leader

Upsound

VO

Now on a regular contract making about $10 an hour, Abbas has become one of the union’s most active members.

3:43

Abbas Zaigham

Migrant worker

SOT

4:00

Luca Toscano

Union Leader

VO

Luca Toscano is co-founder of Sudd Cobas.

He says worker abuse is rife across Italy’s high-end manufacturing industry.

4:14

Luca Toscano

Union Leader

SOT

Luca: They need to maintain the false image that ‘Made in Italy’ gives to the product. So they don’t move production to Asian countries. They keep it in Italy. But they bring to Italy the working conditions of China, of Pakistan, of Bangladesh. They exploit the workers that come from those same countries in Italy.

4:35

Driving to Sofia’s factory

VO

Just what happens inside such factories?

4:49

UC footage

Getting out of taxi. Wandering around outside Sofia’s factory

Upsound

Undercover researcher: Thank you.

VO

Our first stop is a factory just outside Prato.

4:57

UC footage of Sofia’s factory from 2002. Workers making Gucci bags

VO

5:11

UC footage

Meeting Sofia

Upsound

Undercover researcher: We have reached the entrance. Can you see us?

VO

Posing as Chinese investors, we’ve come to meet the owner.

Upsound

Undercover researcher: This is Sofia.

VO

Zhuang Meidan, or Sofia, as she prefers to be called, has been running this business for more than a decade.

Upsound

Sofia: Previously, we were manufacturing for Gucci. But now we no longer make Gucci products.

5:34

UC footage

Meeting in Sofia’s office

5:55

Sofia shows us Montblanc samples

VO

She also has a new client now.

Upsound

Sofia: We’re manufacturing for this brand. That’s Montblanc.

VO

One bag from the German luxury brand can retail for thousands of dollars.

Montblanc bags range from around $300 US to about $2,700 US  for a 149 duffle bag https://www.montblanc.com/Item/Index?cod10=1647597329236746&siteCode=MONTBLANC_AU

6:11

Sofia shows us Montblanc samples

Upsound

Sofia: They’re very demanding when it comes to the leather. If there’s even a tiny problem with the leather, the entire thing will be discarded. In other words it has to have zero defects.

6:22

UC footage inside factory

Upsound machines whirring

VO

Inside the factory, there’s a constant hum of machines and the faint smell of chemicals.

6:30

Worker working with sanding machine

Upsound sanding machine

VO

Just two workers are here today.

Neither is wearing protective equipment.

6:37

Worker with no protective gear uses sanding machine

Upsound

Undercover researcher: Will it get your hand?

Worker: If it touches your hand, it will graze your skin. That’s why you have to be careful. 

VO

This process produces ‘leather dust’ - which the World Health Organisation has determined to be carcinogenic.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the WHO's specialised cancer research agency, found:

5. Evaluation
There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of leather dust. Leather dust causes cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

No data in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of leather dust were available to the Working Group.

Leather dust is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304381/

https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Classifications_by_cancer_site.pdf

6:54

Worker moves on to another  machine

Upsound

VO

The worker moves on to another machine.

He says he’s only just taught himself how to use it.

Upsound

Worker: We’ll have to iron it straight now.

Sub

Undercover researcher: Iron straight?

Worker: There are lots of fibres here. After ironing, it will be much smoother.

Undercover researcher: Oh, so that’s hot?

Worker: Yes, 400 degrees now.

Undercover researcher: Isn’t it dangerous?

Worker: No.

Some machines can go to over 1000 degrees. https://elettrotecnicabc.com/en/machines/ironing-machines/

7:17

Worker trips and nearly falls into machine

Upsound

VO

But just moments later, there’s a near accident.

Upsound

Undercover researcher: Be careful! Oh, my goodness!

VO

He narrowly misses being scalded by the machine.

7:28

Talking to Sofia

VO

Sofia says she never hires local Italian workers.

Upsound

Sofia: Chinese workers can work 12 hours or 11 hours.They’re also more obedient. Italians are lazier.

7:43

UC footage of workers working

VO

Under the law, the average working week in Italy is 40 hours, or eight hours a day, five days a week.

And a working week should never exceed 48 hours.

Italy's standard working hours are 40 hours per week, typically divided into 8-hour days. Any work beyond these hours is considered overtime and must be compensated according to both the employment contract and the applicable CCNL. Some agreements may offer extra benefits for overtime, while higher-level employees, such as dirigenti, may not be entitled to overtime pay.

https://www.eurodev.com/blog/guide-hr-employment-italy#:~:text=Italy's%20standard%20working%20hours%20are,contract%20and%20the%20applicable%20CCNL.

7:55

Sofia shows hands us phoney contracts

VO

We ask Sofia how she’s able to skirt the law.

She shows us a worker’s contract.

8:02

Photo of worker’s contract

VO

It states he’s only working four hours a day, five days a week.

8:07

Sofia shows us contract

Upsound

Sofia: This is a worker’s official contract. It says four hours. It is written here.

Undercover researcher: So he only works four hours?

Sofia: In reality, he doesn’t just work four hours. We’ll have our own agreement. We can negotiate on a rate.

8:22

UC - inside Sofia Zhuang’s factory

Upsound

Sofia: I’ll pay you privately. If I pay you more and it’s reflected in the signed contract, I’ll have to pay a lot more for insurance. It’s not worth it.

8:30

Sofia shows us Whatsapp order for Montblanc bags

VO

We ask Sofia to show us her contract with Montblanc.

She says the order came through another subcontractor.

Upsound

Sofia: There’s no contract. It’s just a chat record. I asked her how much are you paying per bag? She messaged me back.

8:46

Freeze shot of phone? Highlight 56 euros.

VO

56 euros per bag. That’s about $60.

Sofia says, less than half of this goes towards paying her workers.

We ask if Montblanc knows of the arrangement.

9:02

Sofia Zhuang

Upsound

Sofia: We don’t interact directly with the brands. They go through an Italian third party. Montblanc will leave the order with them. And then they will spread the work out.

9:14

Deborah Lucchetti

Clean Clothes Campaign

VO

Deborah Lucchetti is the Italian spokesperson for NGO, the Clean Clothes Campaign. 

She says brands bear the most responsibility for labour rights violations in their supply chain.

SOT

Deborah: They’re the ones who determine the price under which suppliers work. These conditions are so destructive and so unfair that they force suppliers to resort to subcontractors. That is, to other small third parties and small companies that can allow them to produce that product, whether it is a clothing product or a leather product, at the lowest possible cost.

9:58

Saying hi at Privilege

Upsound

Undercover researcher: Nice to meet you.

VO

The next day, we visit Privilege, an Italian company that produces bags for some very recognisable names.

10:11

Walking through Privilege

Upsound

VO

Owner Lorenza Tatini tells us her employees work eight hours a day, five days a week.

10:20

UC footage - secret subcon factory inside Privilege SRL

VO

But we soon learn that hidden deep within the 2,700 square metre facility, is another factory.

Upsound

Undercover researcher: So this is another company?

Upsound

Sofia: This is rented to some Chinese people.

10:36

Convo with Lorenza outside secret subcon factory

VO

It’s managed by a separate company with a Chinese owner.

This secret factory has just one client - their landlord, Privilege.

Upsound

Lorenza: They only work for us.

Sofia: The workers make Dior?

Lorenza: Dior and Jill Sander. And Marni.

10:58

UC footage of worker making Marni bags

11:02

Worker at secret factory in Privilege

VO

Like the factory we’d visited the day before, workers here use little if any protective gear.

11:09

UC footage of workers making Dior bags,

Completed backpacks

Upsound

Undercover researcher: What brand is this?

Worker: Dior.

VO

One of the products they’re making is a Dior backpack.

Lorenza says her company gets 84 euros, or around $91 for each bag.

11:27

UC footage

Worker at secret subcon factory sewing Dior bag

VO

They then pay their Chinese subcontractor between  $49 to $54 to do the actual work.

11:35

Convo with Lorenza

Upsound

Lorenza: Instead of sending work outside, we give it to them. So we can control them.

Undercover researcher: So how much do they work?

Lorenza: They work till 8pm.

Undercover researcher: What time do they start working?

Lorenza: At 8 in the morning.

11:51

UC - GVS of factory

VO

The owner of Privilege did not respond to our request for comment.

11:57

UC shot of Sofia Zhuang

VO

Sofia Zhuang says she’s closed down her factory and rejects all allegations that she acted illegally.

12:07

Graphic of Kering’s response

VO

French luxury group, Kering, which owns Gucci, says it has procedures in place to protect workers in its supply chains...

... and that since 2015, it has carried out more than 30,000 audits worldwide.

12:23

Graphic of Dior’s response

VO

12:33

Graphic of Marni’s response

VO

The OTB group which owns Marni and Jil Sander issued this statement saying:

Its agreement with Privilege started a few months ago, and the company was independently audited.

Investigations are underway and it will terminate the partnership if it finds substantial evidence of what we have reported.

12:56

Exterior Sudd Cobas

VO

We show our findings to the union, Sudd Cobas.

13:03

Showing footage to Luca and Francesca

Upsound

Lynn: This video that we filmed, I just want you to take a look at it and tell me whether it is normal for this worker to work like this.

13:12

Luca Toscano

Union Leader

Upsound

Luca: It’s definitely not normal because he doesn’t have any kind of protection.

13:19

Francesca Ciuffi

Union Leader

Cover parts of the sot with footage from LynnIPhone of worker working

VO

Francesca Ciuffi is also a leader at the union. 

Upsound

Francesca :Leather workers should not only have safety gear for cutting and handling objects at high temperature, but also, in regard to what they breathe, the dust produced when cutting the leather, the varnishes lead to an increase in respiratory diseases and tumours.

13:41

Reverse shot of Luca and Francesca looking at UC footage

Francesca points to Montblanc logo

VO

Suddenly, our discussion takes an unexpected turn when the activists recognise the logo on one of the bags.

Upsound

Francesca: This is Montblanc.

VO

It’s a brand they know very well.

13:56

Luca Toscano

Union Leader

1

Union

Upsound

Luca: We know it very well because together with the workers, we’ve been fighting this brand for many months.

14:03

GVS protest outside Montblanc in Florence

Upsound protest

Protestors: Strike! Strike!

VO

For months now, the union has been at the forefront of a campaign against Montblanc - accusing the brand of being complicit in labour exploitation.

Upsound

Protestors: Montblanc exploits! Montblanc runs away!

14:20

Arslan at protest outside Montblanc shop in Florence

VO

Pakistani migrant worker Muhamed Arslan says he spent seven years at a factory making leather products for the brand.

14:29

Arslan

Migrant worker

SOT

Arslan: We worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. We were paid 3 euros ($3.23) an hour. Now one of those bags in there sells for 2000 euros ($2153) or more.

14:44

Arslan etc at Sudd Cobas meeting

VO

In early 2023, Arslan and several of his colleagues joined Sudd Cobas.

The union convinced the workers’ employer to give them regular contracts.

14:58

Arslan

SOT

Arslan: After that we worked 8 hours a day. They paid us well. Something like 1450 euros to 1500 euros a month ($1500-1600).

VO

But the arrangement didn’t last very long.

15:13

Francesca Ciuffi

Union Leader

Upsound

Francesca: After the workers unionised, Montblanc decided to take work away from that factory, leaving the workers practically with no work.

Worker making Montblanc bags, logo visible

Upsound

Sofia: Montblanc. That’s Montblanc.

VO

The union now knows where some of Montblanc’s production went: Sofia’s factory.

15:32

Luca Toscano

Union Leader

SOT

Luca: It is very important for us to see this video because it is proof of what we have been saying all these months. That is, that factory was emptied and closed in order to bring the work to where there were still workers to be exploited, where the cost of the production of these bags could be lowered by the maximum.

15:52

Workers outside Montblanc shop in Florence

VO

Montblanc did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

15:57

Scroll to “supplier code of conduct” at bottom of page click open...

VO

But according to a “supplier code of conduct” on its website...

https://www.richemont.com/media/

ec3hryfn/richemont_scc_eng.pdf

16:02

Graphic

https://www.richemont.com/media/

ec3hryfn/richemont_scc_eng.pdf

VO

...the company is committed to “securing responsible practices” through its supply chains.

16:08

Protestors outside Montblanc shop in Florence

Upsound

Protestors: Made in Italy! Shame in Italy!

VO

Among other things, contractors have to undertake to respect human and labour rights.

16:19

Arslan etc getting ready to protest outside Z Productions

Marching towards factory, protesting

Upsound

VO

It’s September 2024.

Arslan and some of his colleagues are outside their old factory.

They’ve had no work for nine months and want Montblanc to give them their jobs back.

16:35

Protestors outside Z Productions

Upsound protest

Protestors: Montblanc exploits! Montblanc runs away! Made in Italy! Shame in Italy!

VO

In March, the union negotiated a monthly allowance for the men.

They’re protesting today because their employer - Z Production - has missed two payments.

17:02

Francesca Ciuffi

Union Leader

SOT

Francesca: In the process of the struggle with Montblanc, the workers also need to pay their rent and everything. So it’s also important to make a point with the factory owner. 

17:13

Z Productions’ owner’s wife car pulls up. She flashes a finger at the workers.

Upsound loud car honk

VO

A car pulls up.

We’re told it’s the factory owner’s wife.

She makes an obscene gesture and drives away.

17:35

 Francesca on phone

Upsound Francesca on phone

VO

Minutes later, Francesca receives a call from the accountant at Z Production.

VO

He says they’ll be making payment today.

17:51

Protestors continue to protest

Upsound

Protestors: Made in Italy! Shame in Italy!

VO

It’s a small, unexpected victory, in a fight that’s far from over.

18:01

Arslan

SOT

Arslan: I think today was a good day. We won. He paid the two months. It was a good day.

18:11

Protestors protesting outside Z productions

Upsound protests

VO

Z Production did not respond to our request for comment.

18:19

Union members prepping for drive to Geneva

Upsound

VO

Four days later, with still no response from Montblanc, the union decides to take things up a notch.

18:28

Workers and volunteers getting ready - packing stuff in cars etc

SOT

Zain: We are really excited about this thing.

VO

They’re going on a road trip to Geneva - home to Richemont, the company that owns Montblanc.

18:40

Zain Ali

Migrant Worker

VO

Zain Ali worked at Z Production for four years.

SOT

Zain: We all hope that we can solve this problem in Switzerland, about the work.

18:49

GVS - workers and volunteers in car on way to Geneva, taking pics, listening to music, looking out car window etc

VO

It’s a seven-hour drive to Geneva.

The union’s planned the trip to coincide with Richemont’s annual general meeting, scheduled to take place in two days.

AGM was on 11 Sep 2024

https://www.richemont.com/investors/shareholder-information/agmegm/

19:04

Cover part of SOT with pics in car, on the way to Geneva

SOT

Zain: We are all ready for our little demonstration in front of Montblanc, Richemont.

19:10

Shots of fancy Geneva. Drive through heart of Geneva - UN orgs, Red Cross etc,

VO

Geneva is a global city, host to numerous UN organisations, international NGOs, and some of the world’s biggest companies.

19:21

Driving into Bellevue

VO

Richemont’s headquarters is tucked deep in the leafy suburb of Bellevue...

Compagnie Financière Richemont SA (“Richemont”, "we", "us" and "our") has its registered offices at 50, Chemin de la Chênaie, CP30, 1293 Bellevue, Geneva, Switzerland.

https://www.richemont.com/richemont-privacy-policy/

19:27

Workers etc prepping for protest, posing with signs etc

VO

... a world away from the industrial estates of Prato.

Upsound

Francesca: Okay, let’s go.

19:34

Marching towards Richemont HQ

Upsound

Protestors: Strike! Strike! Strike Strike! Richemont exploits! Richemont runs away! 

19:48

Arturo’s speech in front of Richemont HQ

Upsound

Arturo: We are here, we see this beautiful palace, this very beautiful neighbourhood. The truth is that you made your money on the blood of these workers that are here now in front of you.

20:07

Luca and Francesca argue with security guard

VO

It’s not long before Richemont’s security tells them to move.

Upsound

Guard: Just here. From here, you’re on private property.

Luca: Go *** yourself.

Guard: Thank you for the respect.

Luca: You have respect for the workers?

Francesca: They were thrown in the street by your company! So you don’t talk to us about respect!

Guard: I don’t talk to you madam.

20:25

Confrontation with police outside Richemont HQ

Upsound

Police: Good morning. Come with me please. There is no authorisation for your demonstration.

VO

It appears someone’s called the police.

Upsound

Francesca: It’s a strike.

Police: Come with me please.

Upsound scuffles

Francesca: Film this!

20:51

Police drag Francesca away

VO

The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in Switzerland’s constitution.

But police say they have to apply for authorisation, or risk arrest and criminal penalties.

Both these things are true. Switzerland does have draconian regulations requiring authorization for protest. See below releases from Amnesty:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/western-central-and-south-eastern-europe/switzerland/report-switzerland/

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/europe-sweeping-pattern-of-systematic-attacks-and-restrictions-undermine-peaceful-protest/

21:01

Police drag Francesca away. Luca tries to talk to them

Upsound

Luca: We are really peaceful!

Police: Keep distance please.

Luca: We are distance! We are peaceful!

21:06

Police everywhere!

VO

More than a dozen police surround the union members.

Raza tries to reason with police

21:16

Francesca in the distance, surrounded by police

21:25

Rain coming down. Francesca walks to car, hi-fives everyone

Upsound

VO

In the end, the police release her with the promise of a hefty fine.

21:35

Francesca Ciuffi

Union Leader

SOT

Francesca: I think we gave them a message anyway today. So this was the important thing.

21:42

Shot of police in police car right behind Luca and Francesca

VO

It will not be the union’s only confrontation with Swiss police.

21:48

Driving towards Intercontinental Hotel

VO

Two days later, they try to visit the Intercontinental Hotel - venue of Richemont’s annual general meeting.

21:57

Driving past Arturo, surrounded by police, 100 metres from hotel

VO

But a hundred metres from the hotel, they’re stopped by police.

22:02

Phone footage - Arturo surrounded by police

VO

Activist Arturo Gambassi was going to wave a banner at Richemont’s shareholders.

Police surround him and are now searching car.

22:14

Police ask for our ID

Upsound

Police: Hello.

VO

It’s not long before they approach us too.

We’re standing on public property, well away from where they’re questioning Arturo. 

Upsound

Police: We’re going to identify you. It’s our job. We need your ID cards.

22:30

Phone footage

Police search us

VO

They take our details, conduct body searches and go through our belongings.

22:38

Phone footage

Police search us

VO

Then, they let us go.

But not before this warning.

Upsound

Police: Be careful. If these images end up on the internet, we’re going to file a complaint.

22:46

Walking with Zain to Montblanc shop in downtown Geneva

Upsound

VO

Later that day, we meet up with the workers.

Richemont has just wrapped up its annual general meeting.

Among other things, shareholders approved up to $9.5 million compensation to each member of their board of directors.

But the company has not responded to the union’s call for a meeting.

https://www.richemont.com/media/b55du1ej/minutes-of-the-general-meeting-held-on-11-september-2024.pdf

maximum aggregate compensation of CHF8,500,000 for the period of the closing of the AGM in 2024 through to the 2025 AGM

23:10

Interview with Zain on the way to Montblanc’s shop in Geneva

Upsound

James: What’s the plan today, Zain?

Zain: We are going to go in front of Montblanc shop to do a strike. And to present our problem to the public.

23:24

Police observing from a distance

Upsound

Protestors: Montblanc exploits! Montblanc runs away!

VO

They have authorisation this time.

Police observe the demonstration from a distance.

23:36

Zain speaks at protest outside Montblanc in Geneva

Upsound

24:07

People clapping, listening.

Upsound applause

VO

Things haven’t gone to plan for the workers.

But word of their visit to Richemont has spread and other unions have come to support their cause.

Upsound

Protestors: Shame on Richemont!

24:23

Oct 26 protest

Upsound

Protestors: Strike! Strike!

VO

In the weeks that follow, the momentum intensfies.

And on the 26th of October, hundreds of supporters demonstrate outside Montblanc shops in 11 cities across Europe.

24:43

GVS protest

VO

Richemont did not reply to 101 East’s multiple requests for an interview or comment.

It has still not responded to the union’s invitation to meet for negotiations.

24:56

October 26 demo in Florence

Upsound

Protestors: Shame on! Shame on! Montblanc, shame on!

VO

For now, for these workers, the struggle continues.

They say they’re fighting for their rights, and they’re not backing down.

-          End -

-          End -