Wal-Mart's new uniforms causing controversy—again
Wal-Mart's made a big push for Made in the USA products over the past few months, pledging to spend an additional $250 billion on U.S.-made products over the course of 10 years.
But as part of its newly mandated uniform requirements—which already had employees up in arms for adding an extra cost to their budgets—the company's new vests were, in fact, not made in America, according to Gawker. Instead, they were made in Jordan.
The website on Friday posted an image showing the inside of one of the vests, which it said was supplied by a Wal-Mart employee in Minnesota.
Michelle Gloeckler, executive vice president of consumables and U.S. manufacturing at Wal-Mart, confirmed the vests were made in Jordan, explaining the retailer made this decision because it couldn't find a supplier in the U.S. to churn out 1.4 million vests under such a quick time crunch.
"The sheer number of vests that we ordered for our associates is the reason that we utilized a current apparel supplier in that location," she said. "Our intent is to replenish the vests as needed through a U.S. supplier."
Gloeckler said these replenishments would be made as soon as Wal-Mart can finalize the selection of a U.S. vendor.
In July, the discounter hosted an "open call" event for Made in the USA goods, where more than 800 suppliers and potential suppliers pitched their products. Gloeckler said the company committed to one-third of the products it saw on the spot, and it's working on terms, timing and other issues with another third.
Last month, Wal-Mart said on its internal website that starting Sept. 29, employees would now need to wear a collared shirt and vest while at work. Although Wal-Mart said it will foot the bill for the vests, workers would be responsible for buying the new shirts, if they don't already own them.
To read the full Gawker article, click here.
—By CNBC staff