Family with PWD kicked out of Laguna store
‘Our priority is to ensure that everyone who visits our stores feels welcome, valued and respected. While we are investigating this situation further, we want to reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all’
A Facebook post surfaced on the night of Sunday, 8 December, claiming that an H&M branch refused entry to a family with a child with disability.
The post, shared by a user named Sorened Ehya, stated that the H&M branch is located inside the Vista Mall in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The user claimed that their family was asked to leave the store because of the stroller of their child.
“We were kicked out by the manager because of my blind and deaf child who is in a stroller,” the post reads.
The user also stated that instead of apologizing, the manager of H&M Vista Mall Sta. Rosa told them not to shop at the store.
“It was disappointing because our youngest can only go out on Sundays, and we often go to Vista Mall because it’s spacious and easy to navigate, even with a stroller. But this manager kicked us out and was sarcastic in responding to my husband, which made us angry,” Sorened Ehya wrote.
In the comments, the user added that after seeking assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry in Laguna, they were referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the matter was outside the DTI’s jurisdiction. The family intends to file a formal complaint to bring attention to the incident.
The post quickly garnered traction on social media, with many netizens condemning the alleged treatment and stressing the need for establishments to prioritize persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Hagger Sherawaye, head of PR and Communications for H&M East Asia, stated that the company is actively looking into the matter and reiterated H&M’s dedication to fostering inclusivity.
“Our priority is to ensure that everyone who visits our stores feels welcome, valued and respected. While we are investigating this situation further, we want to reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all,” Sherawaye added.
Meanwhile, Vista Mall Sta. Rosa released a statement on Tuesday, 10 December, addressing the said incident. The mall emphasized its commitment to taking customer feedback seriously.
"Moving forward, we will work closely with our tenants to implement measures that prevent similar incidents in the future," the statement read, as posted on the mall's official Facebook page.
Under Section 9 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, public and private entities are required to provide reasonable accommodations to PWDs, including appropriate access, facilities and services.