Who pays the real cost of supermarket price wars?

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Every week 32 million of us shop in British supermarkets. But as supermarkets continue to push for lower prices and higher profits -- who is paying the cost?

"Supermarkets make billions of pounds of profits. Here people can’t survive, they can’t feed themselves. But if we keep up the pressure, we can get results." Wendy Pekeur, of South Africa trade union and ActionAid partner Sikhula Sonke

Who pays? Time for government action

It’s official. After a two-year inquiry, the official Competition Commission inquiry has slammed the big UK supermarkets for exploiting overseas workers.

ActionAid presented evidence to the inquiry proving that supermarkets are abusing their power overseas. Poor workers in developing countries are working in totally unacceptable conditions to produce the goods we buy.

After a record-breaking 42,031 ActionAid supporters joined the Who pays? campaign, the commission agreed with our demand for a new independent watchdog.

This is a fantastic breakthrough that could help millions of women workers around the world get a fairer deal.

But it’s not over yet. Government action is needed to make sure the watchdog gets up and running – and fast. You can help by asking your MP to make sure this happens.

Take action and make supermarkets play fair overseas.

Download our suggested letter to your MP

Add your details and for even greater impact, personalise the text

Print and post it to your MP. To find your local MP, enter your postcode here
If you receive a response from your MP, please let us know.

Email targetpoverty@actionaid.org


About ActionAid

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. Formed in 1972, for over 30 years we have been growing and expanding to where we are today - helping over 13 million of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries worldwide.

In all of our country programmes we work with local partners to make the most of their knowledge and experience.

In December 2003 we established a new head office in Johannesburg, South Africa, and began the process of making all our country programmes equal partners with an equal say on how we operate.

We work with local partners to fight poverty and injustice worldwide, reaching over 13 million of the poorest and most vulnerable people over the last year alone, helping them fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Our partners range from small community support groups to national alliances and international networks seeking education for all, trade justice and action against HIV/AIDS. Our work with these national and international campaign networks highlights the issues that affect poor people and influences the way governments and international institutions think.

We have a unique vision and direction. We don't impose solutions, but work with communities over many years to strengthen their own efforts to throw off poverty.

We constantly seek new solutions and ask ourselves how we can make the greatest impact with our resources. We make the most of our skills and abilities by working at many levels - local, national, regional and international.

Our vision
A world without poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys their right to a life with dignity.

Our mission
To work with poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice.

Our values

MUTUAL RESPECT, requiring us to recognise the innate worth of all people and the value of diversity

EQUITY AND JUSTICE, requiring us to work to ensure equal opportunity to everyone, irrespective of race, age, gender,
sexual orientation, HIV status, colour, class, ethnicity, disability, location and religion

HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY, being accountable at all levels for the effectiveness of our actions and open in our
judgements and communications with others

SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR, powerless and excluded will be the only bias in our commitment to the fight against poverty

COURAGE OF CONVICTION, requiring us to be creative and radical, bold and innovative – without fear of failure – in
pursuit of making the greatest possible impact on the causes of poverty

INDEPENDENCE from any religious or party-political affiliation

HUMILITY in our presentation and behaviour, recognising that we are part of a wider alliance against poverty.




  

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