The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Staff of Russian online giant Wildberries, run by Russia’s richest woman, Tatyana Bakalchuk, are accusing the company of mistreating workers after it changed some key performance indicators.
Employees say their salaries are now inadequate compared with the volume of tasks required of them and have created a petition demanding better payment. A significant point of contention is that managers of pick-up points, which process incoming goods, are now being asked to concurrently act as cashiers.
The company stressed in a statement that the income of its employees at delivery points has grown 30 percent over the past year and said the majority of delivery point employees would also receive a pay bump under these new conditions.
“In August, about 90 percent of employees at the pickup points received increased [income]. The income of about 10 percent turned out to be less, because their speed of work was lower. We are in a dialogue with our employees, explaining to them the new KPIs of the company and how you can use them to increase your income. As part of the transition period, they will receive an additional payment to their average income in the near future,” Wildberries’ statement read in part.
“We should also note that the new motivation system does not involve the expansion of job responsibilities of employees or the appearance of additional functionality, but only gives the opportunity to receive a decent pay for their efforts”
Learn more:
How Russia’s Richest Woman Made Her Fortune in Fashion
She may not be in the same league as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, but Tatyana Bakalchuk has amassed a fortune that dwarfs that of many western entrepreneurs who have eclipsed her in the fame department. Researchers at Forbes reckon she’s worth a cool $12.7 billion.
Imran Amed shares his observations from a trip to the wealthy desert metropolis, home to the most lucrative stores for many of the world’s top fashion brands.
Spurred by rapid growth in the pure luxury market, global brands operating in lower-priced segments like contemporary fashion are entering the country or accelerating expansion plans.
This week’s round-up of global markets fashion business news also features India’s textile industry, Chinese beauty major Yatsen and Ghana’s newest garment factory.
Luxury fashion retailers in the oil-rich African nation keep a low profile to provide a discreet shopping environment for consumers and avoid flaunting the elite nature of their own business.