Sweatshop Labor

Let's talk about sweatshop labor. Just so we're on the same page, sweatshop labor is a widely used term used to describe a situation where a big company usually that makes something like shoes or clothing hires poor people in other countries and in the US (often young people, often uneducated and almost always impoverished) to do hard labor, under poor working conditions.


A sweatshop is a workplace that violates the law and where workers are subject to:

Extreme exploitation, including the absence of a living wage or long work hours,
Poor working conditions, such as health and safety hazards,
Arbitrary discipline, such as verbal or physical abuse, or
Fear and intimidation when they speak out, organize, or attempt to form a union.

With many thousands of garment factories throughout the world that employ tens of millions of workers (in nearly 200 countries), big corporations scour the world for the lowest labor costs they can find, set up shop and ignore human rights. Sweatshops exists everywhere, from Mexico to Kenya to Indonesia to Turkey to China. These workplaces (generally) pay poverty wages (the lowest that people will work for...and in poor countries, that ain't much) force workers to work long hours, hire children to work, deny workers the right to form a union, fire women who become pregnant and subject workers to dangerous conditions. Even here in the U.S., sweatshops exists. According to www.sweatshopwatch.org, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 67% of Los Angeles garment factories don’t pay workers minimum wage or overtime.

I find this issue to be a little bit confusing in terms of what to do about it. Because the reality is that simply boycotting, for example, J. Crew, who is widely known as having sweatshops, can actually place a strain on that locale's economy. Like, if there's a factory in, say, Indonesia, and poor workers are employed there...we boycott, profits go down, J. Crew lays off a bunch of workers...and you can bet there isn't any severance pay involved. So, in that regard, simply not buying the product may not have the best impact.

Probably the best thing to do is send a message to the company, literally. Email your favorite clothing companies. I mean, let's face it, I'm not going to never buy something from the Gap again...they have the best t-shirts! But what I can (and do) do is write to the company. Just go to the company's web site, click on "contact us" and tell them that you are against sweatshop labor, and that you, as a paying, loyal customer are urging them to improve their worker's conditions and pay them a fair wage. As an example, as a result of presure from anti-sweatshop groups, The Gap published a report last year, making public it's findings (many shortcomings) after an evaluation of it's human rights practices and created a plan to improve the situation. That is a positive step, in the right direction, and The Gap should be applauded for this even if it is only to make them look better.

More info:

The anti-sweatshop movement encourages consumers to shop with a conscience and buy goods made under fair labor conditions. The organizations listed below have compiled the following buying guide, representing a sampling of sweatshop-free apparel products currently available on the market.
The products offered by the retailers and suppliers below are made by workers in the United States and around the world who are organized into democratic unions or worker-owned cooperatives. They have achieved or are striving towards:
· Healthy and safe working conditions.
· Wages and benefits sufficient to support their families' basic needs.
· Treatment with respect, dignity, and justice.
· Freedoms to organize and collectively bargain and decide workplace policies.
You can support their struggles by purchasing the products they make.

No Sweat, the 1st international union made brand, carries sneakers, sox, sweats, camis, yoga pants, oxfords, khakis, PJs, jackets, caps, scarves, denim and more!
Union Jeans has a wide selection of your everyday needs including denim shirts. Their workers are members of UFCW Local 1099.
Justice Clothing is a one-stop shop for union-made and sweatshop free apparel. They are constantly on the hunt for new lines, styles, and manufacturers who meet their strict criteria, and hope to add an expanded line of products in the near future, including linens, dishes, flatware and more.
DeMoulin Brothers is an an all-union manufacturer who make band uniforms, as well as formal men's wear, including tuxedo pants, jackets, shirts, and bow ties. Their workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 546.
Ben Davis has been a union manufacturer of work wear and work fashions in San Francisco since 1935. Their workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 101.
Nueva Vida is a worker owned co-op in Nicaragua which produces t-shirts and camisoles for Maggie's Organics. Get your fix of organic and tye dye at OrganicClothes.com.
Fuerza Unida was founded by former Levi's workers in San Antonio, Texas. They formed a unique women's sewing cooperative that makes and silk screens t-shirts, canvas bags and flags.
Global Exchange's Fair Trade stores feature products such as clothing, accessories, crafts, jewelry, coffee, and chocolate from over 40 countries - with fair prices for consumers and fair prices paid to producers.

This list above is provided by: http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/swatch/sweatfree/index.html