After a two-year struggle, seven workers formerly employed at a Target supplier factory in Guatemala have won their legally owed back pay and severance, and over 400 workers still employed at the factory have had their severance and seniority rights restored.

In late 2020, Target’s JNB Global supplier factory forced its workers to sign new employment contracts that falsified their initial hire dates, effectively reducing the amount of severance and other accrued benefits to which they were legally entitled. The seven workers that refused to sign were fired.

The unlawfully dismissed workers filed a complaint with the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), whose investigation confirmed that the factory had violated Guatemalan law and Target’s own Code of Conduct.

In addition to WRC’s extensive engagement with the company, this victory was achieved thanks to the persistence of the workers themselves, supported by Target employees in Minnesota organized in Target Workers Unite, the global #PayYourWorkers campaign, Remake, and MSN.

This precedent-setting case is the first time US retail giant Target has taken positive action in response to campaigning and engagement to ensure the rights of workers in its supply chain were restored.

For more information:

• WRC Engagement with Target Secures Compensation for Seven Unlawfully Fired Employees (WRC)
• #PayYourWorkers Victories - JNB Global: Stolen severance rights restored, fired workers compensated (#PayYourWorkers)