Last Friday witnessed a significant demonstration by employees from Zara, Bershka, and other brands under the fashion conglomerate Inditex, as they took to the streets outside their stores across Spain, including Madrid’s Gran Via and cities like Barcelona and Seville. The protests, driven by a demand for better working conditions, come in the wake of Inditex reporting a record-breaking annual profit of 5.4 billion euros and a substantial 28% increase in dividends to shareholders.
Carolina Albarran, a Zara employee with 33 years of tenure, voiced the protesters’ sentiment, stressing the need for equitable profit distribution among the workforce. “It’s only fair that the workers, the backbone of Inditex, benefit from the fruits of their labor,” she stated, highlighting the contrast between the company’s financial success and the employees’ plea for recognition.
Despite Inditex’s silence on the protests, the company hinted at a willingness to address worker grievances in April, as per union leaders. The demands include better compensation and working conditions, such as increased hours for part-time staff, guaranteed weekends off, bonuses for long-term employees, and improved benefits. Last year, in an attempt to quell dissatisfaction, Inditex raised wages by 20% and announced a one-time bonus for shop workers in Spain, marking a global salary increase of 9% for its employees.
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