H&M probed by Sweden equality watchdog

H&M say they have launched an internal investigation over the allegations

Credit: ARND WIEGMANN /Reuters

Sweden’s equality watchdog has launched an investigation into the fashion giant H&M after a hidden camera report last month showed Swedes with immigrant backgrounds found it harder to return goods in its stores. 

"Media reports that customers are treated worse than others for reasons that might have to do with their ethnic origin has led us to judge that there is sufficient reason to seek a response from the company," Lars Arrhenius, the ombudsman, said in a press statement announcing the probe. 

Sweden’s Aftonbladet tabloid last month sent two young women carrying hidden cameras out to H&M stores, with each tasked with trying to return a bag of goods without having a receipt.

While the blonde Swedish woman had no trouble exchanging the goods, the other, a dark-skinned woman in a headscarf, was told she needed a receipt, even though this is reportedly not required under H&M’s returns policy. 

The newspaper also interviewed ten former and current staff members who said they had witnessed ethnic discrimination at H&M stores. 

H&M has until December 22nd to explain the problems faced by the dark-skinned woman in the report, both in exchanging the goods, but also to explain why staff had followed her around the store, confronted her, seized goods from her hand, and demanded that she pay for them. 

The ombudsman has also required that the company explain its policies for following and surveilling certain customers, and also what policies it has in place to prevent discrimination. 

In a written response to the Daily Telegraph, H&M said that it had launched an internal investigation into what had happened, and also reiterated to staff the importance of avoiding discrimination, racism, or intolerance.

"We strongly oppose all forms of racism and discrimination. It goes without saying that all our customers should be treated equally, and we take this type of accusation with the utmost seriousness," the company said. 

H&M faced widespread condemnation three years ago when it used a black boy to model a hooded top bearing the inscription "coolest monkey in the jungle".