Fast Retailing pledges to stop abuses at garment factories

Hold them to the same labor standards that exist in the civilized world, and watch how fast it levels the playing field.

$17.8 billion of personal fortune, and he starts a "pilot program" to be concerned about workers, to be implemented sometime in the future.

What a generous man.

I'm sure there is no connection between his $17.8 fortune and labor violations by the suppliers. Just an innocent coincidence.

Welcome to the world of sourcing goods from China. Nike and a host of brand name companies have trod this path before, in which customers balk at the concept of too much dried blood and sweat (figuratively speaking) on their apparel and shoes. Fast retailing will now create or contract out to Corporate social responsibility CSR organizations to show that they are not horrible labor exploiters.

I wish the company luck. I like the products, especially the Heatech underwear. The sweat and blood are not all that detectable.