Canadian labor groups filed a complaint with a federal watchdog alleging that Canadian Tire did not ensure that workers in its suppliers' factories in South Asia receive fair wages.

Also, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC/CTC) and the United Steelworkers (USW/SM) filed the complaint yesterday with the Canadian Ombudsman for the responsible organization.

The complaint stated that workers in garment factories in Bangladesh supplying Mark's (in Quebec: l'Équipeur), affiliated with Canadian Tire, with clothing sold under brand names such as WindRiver, Denver Hayes, Dakota, and Helly Hansen are receiving "meager wages."

Although the company's suppliers may pay slightly more than the legal minimum wage in Bangladesh, garment workers still earn less than one dollar per hour on average, said Kalpona Akter, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity.

Also, workers live in crowded housing and struggle to feed their families, despite working six days a week and 12 hours a day, Akter confirmed.

She added that garment workers earn such low wages that they cannot escape poverty and live "one step away from extreme poverty."

In this context, a delegation from the Canadian Labour Congress and the United Steelworkers last summer traveled to Bangladesh to meet with garment workers at their workplaces.

For its part, Canadian Tire asserts that it ensures its suppliers comply with all local laws, including those related to wages.

"As part of our compliance assurance activities, Canadian Tire regularly monitors wage rates and works with reputable third parties to review the accounts of factories that manufacture our branded products," the company explained in a statement sent today via email.

For his part, Marty Warren, National Director in Canada for the United Steelworkers, claims that Canadian Tire's suppliers violate international human rights standards.

"Women and men working in garment factories in Bangladesh, such as those used by Mark's / l'Équipeur and Canadian Tire, live in poverty," Warren said at a press conference.