Leisure Clothing, which has ended up in a controversy after two of its directors were formally accused of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, has strongly denied human trafficking allegations but admitted that it needed to fine-tune certain workers' conditions.
Leisure Clothing's management was replying to a question put by this newsroom as to whether or not the company had actually breached labour laws.
Just over a week ago, this newsroom was exclusively invited to the factory to see for itself the conditions of its workers.
Yesterday, The Malta Independent released another story which saw the management explain why only eight Vietnamese workers made certain allegations against Leisure Clothing's directors, who are Chinese. It argued that since Vietnamese are not as skilled as the Chinese and North Koreans, they were ending up with a much lower wage then the rest of the foreign workers at Leisure Clothing. This, it continued, is due to the fact the workers' bonuses are not fixed, unlike the bonuses of local workers, and their monthly wages rely heavily on performance bonuses.
'If we were trafficking humans, the word would have spread and nobody would have worked for us': Leisure Clothing
Leisure Clothing's management said that in the 28 years it has been in operation, the company has never been faced with such shocking allegations as human trafficking. "If we were trafficking humans, the word would have spread and we would not have been in operation for all these years since nobody would have worked for us," it said.
Besides, the management added, if it was trafficking humans they would arrive in groups and not one at a time over a period of a year. It's not as if they arrived in some container or were forced to come over. They signed a contract and contracts are signed individually.
Leisure clothing employees during their annual staff party
The company started off as a joint venture between the Chinese government and Maltese government. In 1996, the Maltese government sold its share.
Top German fashion brand extends contract with Leisure Clothing following intensive audit
As soon as the case of Leisure Clothing emerged, a top German fashion brand requested it carry out an audit of the company, which it did a few weeks ago. The company's representatives brought with them to Malta two Chinese individuals to serve as interpreters and a number of Chinese and Vietnamese workers at Leisure Clothing were randomly interviewed by the German company representatives. After scrutinising workers and their conditions and finding, from the workers interviewed, that no claims of human trafficking were substantiated, the German fashion brand decided to go ahead and extend its contract with Leisure Clothing.
The relevant proof was also seen by this newsroom, including a letter sent by the German fashion company, which confirmed a 2015 order of around 2,000 pairs of trousers.
'Workers' dormitories serving their purpose' - architect
A document seen by this newsroom and signed by an architect, John Schembri, who visited the dormitories the workers live in, states that the lodging is serving its purpose. The accommodation in question is 'China House', Hal Far, close to the Employment and Training Corporation's premises.
Workers taken to Sicily on holiday
The workers at Leisure Clothing were taken to Sicily for a holiday which cost the company some €30,000, a management spokesperson said, who handed this newsroom images of the workers during the trip.
Leisure clothing employees on a company funded holiday
"We always try to come up with initiatives for our workers," the management said. The company also organises photo competitions for its employees.
Employees are sent to towns and villages and those who capture what the company terms as being the best picture, are given a monetary prize.
Documents of this sort were also seen by this newsroom. The top prize is €30.
Workers have group insurance policy
Documents dated May 2014 show that all the workers are covered by a group health insurance policy paid for by Leisure Clothing.
Other documents show that the requests from Chinese and Vietnamese employees for acupuncture treatment had been granted by the company: this newsroom was shown the relevant invoices. The treatment is carried out at the Chinese Acupuncture Medical Centre and has been used by seven Chinese and Vietnamese workers this year. It was fully funded by Leisure Clothing.
The company also has a doctor on call who directly invoices the company. In the first quarter of this year, 27 employees had been seen by the doctor.
Company donated funds to Vietnamese worker
The management also pointed out if an employees has some problem back home, it would not be the first time that the company has given a donation to the worker to ease the financial burden. Even the workers themselves donate to a pool. A recent case involved a Vietnamese woman who required money due to floods back home.
Drinking water is supplied by the company
Workers are supplied with large containers of Eco Pure water. Invoices seen by this newsroom show that the water was already being supplied before the recent publicity. This newsroom was shown an invoice in this respect dated 3 September 2014 issued by Farsons Group. According to the management, the water costs the company €425 every fortnight. Foreign employees all converge on the canteen during break-time and are served with Asian food prepared by the three chefs that are employed by the company.