Latest news with #subcontractors
NHK
6 days ago
- Business
- NHK
At least 19 subcontractors say they are unpaid for Expo pavilion construction
NHK has learned that at least 19 subcontractors that participated in building foreign pavilions at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka are saying they have not been paid for their work. The subcontractors claim the companies that commissioned the work failed to meet the deadline to pay them. NHK found the subcontractors engaged in constructing pavilions for seven countries -- the United States, Angola, Serbia, China, Germany, Malta, and Romania. In some cases, first-tier subcontractors claimed the primary contractors did not pay them. In other cases, the first-tier subcontractors were also unable to pay their second-tier subcontractors, causing a "chain of non-payment." The alleged non-payments range from about 1 million yen to 120 million yen, or about 6,800 dollars to 820,000 dollars, per firm. Some subcontractors said that caused severe problems for their management. Subcontractors say prime contractors cited alleged "breach of contract" and "client dissatisfaction" as reasons for non-payment. The subcontractors also say they were repeatedly told that officials in charge were not in Japan. Multiple companies that commissioned the work told NHK that the allegations are false and there are no outstanding payments. The expo's association, the central government and the Osaka prefectural government are considering launching an investigation into the situation and how to respond. Kusunoki Shigeki, a professor at the University of Tsukuba, said construction works may have been carried out without finalizing contract details amid tight time constraints, due to the effects of rising labor costs. He also said that when the client or prime contractor was an overseas company, gaps in understanding contracts may have occurred, as well as communication difficulties, which could have led to problems. One hundred and fifty-eight countries and regions are taking part in the ongoing expo in western Japan.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Loro Piana Placed Under Judicial Oversight Due to Alleged Worker Exploitation
MILAN — A Milan Court has put Loro Piana into a judicial administration procedure concerning alleged worker exploitation in the Italian luxury brand's supply chain. Loro Piana in a statement on Monday evening said it 'acknowledges the notification received from the Court of Milan's Preventive Measure Section today regarding labor practices by undisclosed and unauthorized subcontractors of one of its suppliers.'The Italian luxury company stated that 'in breach of its legal and contractual obligations, the supplier did not inform Loro Piana of the existence of these subcontractors. Loro Piana was made aware of this situation on May 20, and, as a result, the maison terminated all relations with the concerned supplier in less than 24 hours.' Furthermore, 'Loro Piana firmly condemns any illegal practices and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to upholding human rights and compliance with all applicable regulations throughout its supply chain. Loro Piana is committed to ensuring that all its suppliers comply with the maison's highest quality and ethical standards in line with its Code of Conduct. In this perspective, Loro Piana has been constantly reviewing and will continue to strengthen its control and audit activities.'According to media reports, Loro Piana sells cashmere jackets with a price tag of 3,000 euros, which, through its subcontractors, would allegedly actually cost only 100 euros. The firm denied this claim. 'The reported cost figures are not representative of the amounts paid by Loro Piana to its supplier, nor do they consider the full value of all the elements, including, among others, raw materials and fabrics.'Looking ahead, Loro Piana concluded by stating that it 'expresses its full willingness to cooperate with the relevant authorities on this matter and intends to provide the utmost support for any further investigations.' More from WWD Rihanna's Son Riot Completes Dior Look With Edgy Dr. Martens Oxfords at 'Smurfs' Premiere Rihanna Makes 'Smurfs' Premiere a Fashionable Family Affair in Saint Laurent, With Sons RZA and Riot in Dior Louis Vuitton Notifies U.K. Customers of Data Breach Loro Piana is controlled by the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and is helmed by chief executive officer Frédéric Arnault, who succeeded Damian Bertrand last month. Bertrand is now chairman of the brand and has moved to become deputy CEO of Louis is only the latest luxury brand to incur in such a probe. Dior, also part of LVMH, and the Giorgio Armani Group have also been investigated for allegedly using suppliers who subjected workers to poor conditions, including inadequate wages, and potentially misleading consumers about their commitment to ethical standards, labor practices and artisanal production. Both brands have seen the judicial administration procedures lifted after taking steps to improve their supply chain and labor practices. In February, a Milan court ordered the revocation of the judicial administration imposed since April last year on Giorgio Armani Operations, a unit of the namesake designer's fashion group, over the labor practices of its Chinese-owned subcontractors. At the time, the Armani Group said in a statement that the decision to revoke the judicial administration was made because the company has taken all the necessary corrective action and 'already had a structured and tested system of controls and protection of its supply chain.' The revocation came ahead of the one-year deadline initially expected, it pointed out. The statement underscored that the decision was also made because the court recognized the group's craftsmanship as Armani's suppliers 'are often to be identified as highly qualified artisans, especially regarding Italian production, characterized by the highest level of sophistication and quality.' Last year, judges also placed an Italian subsidiary of Dior, which produced handbags for the French brand, under the same form of special administration, again for lack of control over its supply chain. In May, the French fashion house was cleared of any wrongdoing and said it remains 'committed to upholding our values of transparency and respect throughout our supply chain. This further underscores the maison's steadfast and historic dedication to pursuing both rigorous Made in Italy products and the highest standards of ethics and excellence.' Alviero Martini was also investigated over alleged worker exploitation, and in May, a unit of Valentino specialized in bags was placed under judicial administration for a year by the Milan court after worker abuse was uncovered at subcontractors. Following the move, Valentino said it had intensified its supplier evaluation process across its supply chain in recent years and would cooperate with the relevant authorities to 'fully understand the circumstances that have led to the measures taken by the judiciary in this specific case.' Best of WWD The Biggest Legal Battles Shaping the Fashion Industry Today PETA Asks Lululemon About Slaughterhouse Practices China's Livestreaming Star Viya Fined $210 Million for Tax Evasion Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From dream home to lawsuits: Customer says contractor stops communication
DES MOINES, Iowa — Levi Johnson and his wife were excited to build their dream home on their father's property, just adjacent to where they currently live south of Panora. 'We initially decided to go with Davis. We felt like, you know, they were great to work with in and out of the office, all the reviews online seemed to be great,' said Johnson. Little did he know that after construction started in November 2024, things would get more difficult. There were issues arising when Johnson asked the contractor, Davis Custom Homes, to see if there can be fixes to some issues caused by some of the work. Another red flag for Johnson was that mechanical liens were being filed by subcontractors working on the property, which means that the subcontractors weren't being paid out for the work they were doing. Johnson decided to hire a private engineer to observe his house under construction, confirming that there were issues the contractor would need to address. More charges filed against ISU student accused of sexually exploiting minors on social media 'We did present the information from the private engineer, we had a sit down meeting in their office, we did that twice I believe. We were both on a dead head, we were not willing to compromise on that, as well they were not willing to fork up the money needed to fix the issues. I believed that is what stemmed them to reach out to their attorney, was they felt like they didn't need to do anything,' said Johnson. After working through the legal channels, Johnson hit a dead end as Davis Custom Homes legal team would not be hearing any future meetings. Johnson and a group of around 20 homeowners met with the Iowa Attorney General's Office on Wednesday to give the office information regarding each specific situation. WHO 13 News went to Davis Custom Homes property on Wednesday. The property landlord shared that the tenants of the building had paid July's rent, but he had not seen them since Monday, July 6. A contractor was on the scene as well, he told WHO 13 News that he was out $500,000 from his work with Davis Custom Homes. He just got back from vacation on Monday, July 14 and the office was closed and no one was around, and he couldn't get in contact with the owners of Davis Custom Homes. Iowa News: I Scream, You Scream, Roger Riley reports on Iowa Ice Cream PHOTOS: Some central Iowans experienced flooding following weekend showers Another family's dream home turns into 'nightmare' after contractor stops communication One in custody following shooting incident in Fort Dodge One dead after car rolls several times in Des Moines County crash Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner stunned after discovering dangerous issue with recent HOA project: 'The bedroom can't be used'
A homeowner posted photos on Reddit of a window in their home that their HOA blocked when it installed a rain gutter during an exterior refurbishment project. The homeowner was unable to open the window and expressed safety concerns. "The bedroom can't be used," they said in their original post. The original poster reported that two different subcontractors who were hired did not communicate properly, thus blocking the outward-opening window. The homeowner attempted to work with their HOA to resolve the issue, but the HOA was not being cooperative and stated it could not move the gutter, so the OP expressed plans to contact the fire department since they believe it to be a fire code violation. HOAs are frequently complained about with regard to being overly controlling or neglecting homeowner needs, such as this incident. Sometimes, HOA oversight or neglect can affect homeowners by increasing utility bills, worsening their quality of life, destroying property or yards, or putting their safety at risk, as in the case of the OP. All of this can have environmental consequences in the form of wasted resources, excessive pollution, or impact on wildlife and the balance of local ecosystems. HOAs have also been known to prevent homeowners from making eco-friendly changes to their homes or yards, such as installing solar panels, allowing the charging of electric vehicles, and growing native plants. HOA issues can often be difficult to resolve, so TCD offers an HOA guide as a resource to learn how you might change established rules, particularly as they pertain to eco-friendly home modifications. Some homeowners have successfully battled their HOAs to make environmentally friendly updates to their homes. The OP said they are trying to be understanding about their window being blocked but that, as time passes, it is becoming more difficult to do so, as they don't feel safe using the room without access to an emergency escape. Fellow Redditors shared in the frustration and offered suggestions on how to handle the issue. "Remove the gutter and tell them to fix the issue," one commenter declared. "If they c(o)me after you then you did it for your safety and fire code." "HOAs shouldn't exist to the degree that they do," another shared. "You should … know your rights to be able to push back when they … cross legal lines," one supportive Redditor said. Should homeowners associations be able to determine what you grow in your garden? Yes Only if it impacts your neighbors Depends on what you're growing Heck no Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
Drivers hiding summonses blamed for KDEB's 22,000 traffic offences
KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd managing director Ramli Tahir said the amount of summonses settled will be deducted from the subcontractors' monthly payments. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Drivers failing to hand over traffic summonses is one of the main reasons KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd has racked up 22,017 active summonses, according to its managing director, Ramli Tahir. Ramli Tahir. He said the company owns nearly 1,400 lorries registered under its name, but these were operated by subcontractors managing solid waste collection across Selangor. 'When these operators receive summonses, the drivers usually hide them and don't pass them to the contractors or to us. In other words, KDEB has no knowledge of it. 'When a summons remains unpaid for three months, the road transport department (JPJ) will issue the summons to the registered address, and it ends up at our office in Shah Alam,' he told FMT. Ramli said KDEB is required to settle the summonses within two months to avoid court action. He said the company has paid more than 12,000 summonses issued to vehicles driven by the staff of subcontractors for various offences. 'It's just the remaining 22,000 summonses that we're in the process of settling now because we received them late. The operator or the driver didn't hand them over to KDEB. It is possible they were hidden or discarded. 'We will deduct the (summons payment) from the monthly payments made to the relevant subcontractors.' He said all subcontractors have agreed to operate in compliance with the law, including settling traffic summonses. Earlier today, transport minister Loke Siew Fook revealed that 11 commercial vehicle operators were found to have over 1,000 outstanding summonses, including 17 express bus companies with more than 200 each. He said KDEB, a Selangor government-owned solid waste management company under Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated, topped the list with 22,017 active summonses. The offences included technical violations, driving without a valid licence, overloading, operating without a vehicle permit and speeding. All the companies involved have been given 14 days to settle their outstanding summonses at the JPJ state or branch offices.
