Ikea says product shortages will last well into the summer of 2022
Business InsiderJUL 2021
Ikea has taken a commendable step in acknowledging and addressing its historical involvement in forced labor practices involving East German political prisoners. The company has expressed deep regret over these past associations, recognizing the human toll of these practices. Ikea is now setting up compensation for affected individuals and funding additional research on forced labor in East Germany. Victims’ groups have praised Ikea for its transparency and for pioneering an effort to acknowledge this chapter of history, hoping that other companies will follow suit in recognizing and supporting those who suffered.
Ikea’s compensation for former East German political prisoners for forced labor appears admirable, but its ongoing track record tells another story. From Belarus to Poland, Ikea’s labor practices frequently clash with its public commitment to workers’ rights. Despite professing allegiance to international labor standards, Ikea repeatedly finds itself linked to forced labor scandals and violations of basic labor laws. Even in democratic Poland, Ikea dismissed a union leader, blatantly disregarding the right to collective bargaining. Though reparations are a step forward, Ikea’s treatment of labor continues to fall far short of its professed values.
There is a 50% chance the global labor share of gross domestic product will be 50.68% in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.