Worker groups challenge watchdog on garment worker pay

OTTAWA – Workers rights groups in Canada are seeking a judicial review after the country's human rights watchdog refused to investigate claims that Bangladeshi garment workers in factories supplying Canadian brands are paid less than the living wage.

The United Steelworkers union (USW) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) had filed a joint complaint to the Office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) against retailer Mark’s and its parent company Canadian Tire.