Beyonce's 'empowering' sportswear label 'is being made by women for $8.50 a day'

Beyonce’s new sportswear range aimed at empowering women is reportedly being made by Sri Lankan sweat shop workers earning as little as $8.50 a day.

The US pop star’s Ivy Park label is sold in Australia by Top Shop, Glue Store, Myer and online retailer The Iconic.

At the clothing range launch, Beyonce - whose full name is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter – said she hoped the label would “support and inspire women who understand that beauty is more than your physical appearance”.

But a seamstress employed to make the clothes in Sri Lanka told The Sun newspaper: “When they talk about women and empowerment this is just for the foreigners.

The 22-year-old machinist told the newspaper she earned $380 a month working a nine and three-quarter hour shift, five days a week, plus overtime.

The wage is more than the legal minimum but less than half of the Sri Lankan average.

A Topshop spokeswoman said Ivy Park had a “rigorous” ethical trading programme.

“We expect our suppliers to meet our code of conduct and we support them in achieving these requirements.

"We are proud of our sustained efforts in terms of factory inspections and audits, and our teams worldwide work very closely with our suppliers and their factories to ensure compliance.