Asos and Klarna support ICRC coronavirus fight with Giveback Day

Buy now, pay later specialist Klarna is supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its response to Covid-19, by donating £1, $1 or €1 for every Klarna transaction placed at Asos on 29th April.

This will take place in Germany, Finland, Norway, United Kingdom, United States and Sweden.

Money raised for the ICRC will go towards activities such as sanitation to prevent the spread of the disease, support for vital health infrastructure such as hospitals, and towards ensuring access to clean water for countless communities.

Klarna has not placed a limit on the amount that it will donate as part of the ‘Giveback Day’. Luke Griffiths, Commercial Vice President at Klarna says: “These are challenging and worrying times for us all and we are incredibly proud to be supporting the ICRC alongside our friends at Asos.”

“The ICRC is carrying out essential work to improve protection and reduce the spread of Covid-19 and we are delighted to be supporting the efforts with our Giveback Day. We look forward to enabling our customers to directly support the international fight against the virus and demonstrate how all of us can contribute, wherever we are.”

Eve Williams, Brand Experience Director at Asos, adds “We want to do as much as we can to show our appreciation for the vital organisations that are helping during this worrying time. We are pleased to be able to extend our Asos Supports campaign to this initiative with Klarna in supporting the ICRC.”

Still in the game

Unlike many of its rivals, Asos has remained open for business throughout the coronavirus outbreak. And it has come under fire for this.

Last month, the pureplay was accused by the GMB union of “playing Russian roulette with people’s lives” as it failed to enforce social distancing in packed warehouses.

The fast fashion giant has up to 4,000 people at its warehouse in Grimethorpe, Barnsley. The GMB said that workers were reporting a complicated clocking in system, resulting in large numbers of people gathering in a small area, and hundreds all breaking for lunch at the same time.

“The situation at Asos is disgusting. It looks exactly like a hot bed of infection – and workers are very scared,” said Deanne Ferguson, GMB Organiser.

“Asos needs to put people before profits and make sure workers are the are distance apart and paid properly if they need to take time off. Anything else is putting unnecessary lives at risk.”

Asos responds

“We totally refute the allegations made by the GMB. They are false, do nothing more than serve to create panic and hysteria in an already uncertain time, and are part of a continuing campaign against us and the recognised union on site, Community,” an Asos spokesperson told RTIH.

“It is simply not true to say we don’t have social distancing protocols in place and it is not true to say that we have thousands of employees working under one roof. The reality is we typically have around 500 colleagues working in our 680,000 square feet facility at any one time and we have strict social distancing protocols in place but, it must be said, it is also our colleagues’ responsibility to adhere to them.”

The spokesperson added that, as directed by the government, it, along with other online retailers, was ensuring it struck the right balance between keeping its warehouse operational and maintaining the health and safety of staff, “which is always our number one priority”.