H&M expresses regret after parents get ushered out over large stroller for PWD child
H&M has apologized to a couple who were ushered out of its store in Laguna due to their large stroller that was being used by their child with disabilities.
As detailed in a post by the disgruntled customer, Sorened Ehya, the incident took place at the fashion brand's branch in Vistamall, Sta. Rosa, Laguna where she and her husband were shopping for some clothes for their blind and deaf child.
"Super disappointed," Ehya described the experience. "Pinalabas kami ng manager ng H&M store dahil daw sa stroller ng anak ko [who is blind and deaf]."
"Bawal ba talaga sa loob ng store mamili ang mga PWD? Bibili ko sana ang anak ko ng damit niya but since pilit kami pinalabas 'di na kami nakapamili," she said.
Ehya further expressed her disappointment at how the store's manager allegedly had no empathy towards them.
"Galit na galit kami ng asawa ko. Imbes mag-sorry 'yung manager, sabi pa 'wag daw kami mamili sa store nila. Kakalungkot lang may ganito, wala empathy sa customer," she lamented.
"Sana mabasa at makarating sa pamunuan ng H&M Philippines. Tama ba talaga ba bawal ang PWD sa store niyo? Imbes mag-explain nang maayos aba eh 'wag na raw na kami mamili, tama ba 'yan?" she added.
In a statement on their Facebook page, H&M expressed regret over the incident as they highlighted how they "deeply value" their customers and are "committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming shopping environment for everyone."
"We are aware of an incident in one of our stores where a misunderstanding occurred involving a customer and their child. Our team approached the customer regarding a large stroller without realizing that it was being used by a child with a disability," the company stated.
"We regret any distress this may have caused and are reviewing the situation to ensure we learn from it," they added.
The brand assured that it is reminding its team members of their "accessibility policies to ensure such incidents do not happen again."
"We are committed to improving our practices to better serve all our customers," H&M stressed.
According to its website, the company adheres to a "human rights policy" where it recognizes that "everybody deserves to be treated equally, and with respect and dignity."
"At H&M Group, we are committed to operating with respect to human rights across our value chain–in our own operations, across our supply chains, and in the communities where we operate. It’s about what we do, and how we do it. This commitment is set out in our Human Rights Policy and applies to all entities within the H&M Group," the policy read.
