The European Works Council (EWC) representing workers at Inditex — the parent company of Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and other major fashion brands — has called on the company to terminate its franchise agreement in Israel in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to Spanish media reports.
The call follows a joint statement issued in late September by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and other European labor federations after a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador in Brussels. In their statement, the unions renewed calls for the European Union to take “more decisive action” regarding Gaza.
In a message to Inditex headquarters, the EWC echoed this stance, requesting the company end its commercial relationship with its Israeli franchise partners. Responding to a query from the Spanish financial outlet Economía Digital Galicia, the union said it is currently awaiting a reply from the fashion giant.
According to Inditex data, the company operated 82 stores in Israel as of the end of 2024 — all under franchise agreements.
“In light of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the EWC joins the joint statement from ETUC and European trade union federations dated September 24, and supports various actions being taken by its affiliated unions at the national level in support of the Palestinian people,” the official statement read.
EWC President Julio Algazár told Economía Digital Galicia that Inditex confirmed it had forwarded the request to upper management, but the council has not yet received a response.
“We’ve made it clear: they must sever commercial ties with their franchisees,” a union spokesperson said, referring to Inditex. “They can break the contract — of course, it will cost them money — but they must do it.”
Inditex has not commented publicly on the matter.