An Italian television channel's investigative report into production by subcontractors for Gucci was "not reality" and "false", according to a statement issued Monday by the luxury-goods company.
On Sunday, State broadcaster RAI's show Report aired an investigative program on factories that manufacture Gucci products, including luxury handbags, featuring footage from hidden cameras and interviews with factory owners and workers. The report used hidden cameras to allegedly show production did not respect to regulations and highlight an alleged bait-and-switch situation involving Italian and Chinese workers.
Leather artisan and Gucci subcontractor Aroldo Guidotti described a "system where they send home Italian employees, replacing them with those of Chinese nationality, who are hired for part-time but work twice, sometimes three times the hours. An evasion that lightens the cost of labor burden on business of manufacturing".
"Within the company, there must a named Italian representative. It is a screen," a Chinese man identified as "secret partner" added.
On Monday, Gucci issued an official statement calling the Report investigation "false" and "not evidence of our reality". The statement said Report cited "inappropriate" hidden cameras and interviews, and said that Report journalists only visited three of 576 factories involved in production. The statement also detailed the regularity of Gucci's factory inspections and claimed that Report did not present a complete view of the inspection process.
"Remember that inspections take place in two parts: the first is documented inspection and the second is action. The television coverage focused on the first part. Remember also that the inspectors do not have the power for immediate coercive power, but to audit. And the audit highlighted irregularities that have been resolved," the Gucci statement said.
Report's Milena Gabinella responded to the Gucci statement, saying that the company "should thank us for documenting and denouncing what their inspectors' should have done".
Enrico Rossi, President of the Tuscan regional government tweeted that Report produced a "false slogan to increase its audience", adding that the program was a "scandal".
Report's Sabrina Giannini responded via Twitter, saying "is Rossi really Team Gucci (1 milion in profits)? You are talking about underpaid artisans. Did you already forget the Prato fire?" referring to a 2013 fire which killed seven Chinese workers.
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