ROME, Italy: Italian authorities have widened their scrutiny of labor practices in the luxury fashion supply chain, asking 13 major brands to hand over detailed records as part of a probe into alleged exploitation of Chinese workers by subcontractors, newly released judicial documents show.
According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, prosecutors are examining episodes of "heavy exploitations" involving Chinese laborers working inside workshops that produced goods for the brands under investigation.
The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The firms ordered to provide governance, internal control, and audit documents include: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Adidas Italy, Missoni, Ferragamo, Givenchy Italia, Alexander McQueen Italia, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent Manifatture, Pinko, Coccinelle, and Off-White Operating.
Milan prosecutors will use the material to assess the level of involvement each brand may have had in the alleged abuses and to determine what measures might follow, the documents said.
The probe adds to a growing series of investigations and police actions exposing exploitative conditions faced by subcontracted workers producing goods for high-end fashion houses.
Last month, Milan prosecutors placed luxury group Tod's and three of its executives under investigation for suspected labor abuses and worker exploitation, also requesting a six-month ban on the company's advertising. Tod's has denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, in April, Italian police revealed that Chinese workers hired by an unauthorized subcontractor were producing handbags and accessories for Giorgio Armani.
The latest inquiry underscores increasing pressure on global fashion houses to ensure oversight and accountability across sprawling, multi-layered manufacturing networks that rely heavily on subcontractors.
