Sweatshops

Overview of Topics General Questions about Sweatshops General Questions about Sweatshops Case Study Case Study Companies involved with Sweatshops Companies involved with Sweatshops Fighting Back: Anti Sweatshop Organizations Fighting Back: Anti Sweatshop Organizations Relating to Labour Studies Relating to Labour Studies

What is a Sweatshop? Employer that violates more than one labour law Employer that violates more than one labour law Factory where workers are subject to extreme exploitation, including low wages, no benefits, filthy and/or dangerous working conditions, denial of their worker and human rights. Factory where workers are subject to extreme exploitation, including low wages, no benefits, filthy and/or dangerous working conditions, denial of their worker and human rights.

Where Do They Exist? All over the world All over the world Most found in severely undeveloped countries Most found in severely undeveloped countries Some found in Underground operations right here in the US. Some found in Underground operations right here in the US.

Why Do They Exist? Corporate greed. Corporate greed. Global competition to produce goods at lowest price. Global competition to produce goods at lowest price. It’s cost effective for corporations to subcontract their manufacturing to suppliers. It’s cost effective for corporations to subcontract their manufacturing to suppliers.

Who Works There? Mostly young women ages 14 – 30 Mostly young women ages 14 – 30 Women make up more than 90% of factory job in poor countries Women make up more than 90% of factory job in poor countries Children are often hired as well (as young as 8 years old). Children are often hired as well (as young as 8 years old).

A sweatshop in Bangladesh

Conditions Workers Face Routinely abused Routinely abused 14 hour days, 7 days a week 14 hour days, 7 days a week Mandatory 19 hour all night shifts at least once a week Mandatory 19 hour all night shifts at least once a week Payment usually 2 weeks late Payment usually 2 weeks late Legal maternity benefits denied Legal maternity benefits denied Forced to work 35 to 42 hours of overtime in a week. Forced to work 35 to 42 hours of overtime in a week. No place to eat, drinking water is filthy No place to eat, drinking water is filthy Up to 100 hours in a week Up to 100 hours in a week

Abusive Conditions Workers pay is docked 2 days if supervisors authority is challenged Workers pay is docked 2 days if supervisors authority is challenged Women denied maternity benefits Women denied maternity benefits No health insurance, sick days, minimal aid No health insurance, sick days, minimal aid No speaking during work No speaking during work Attempt to exercise legal right= mass beatings and firings Attempt to exercise legal right= mass beatings and firings

Living Conditions for a Disney Worker Can only afford to rent a tiny one room hut with 4 other workers Can only afford to rent a tiny one room hut with 4 other workers One outhouse and water pump is shared between 60 other people One outhouse and water pump is shared between 60 other people Live off of rice, 3 times a day Live off of rice, 3 times a day Only 4 to 5 hours of sleep before work begins again Only 4 to 5 hours of sleep before work begins again

Niagra Textiles Ltd. A seven floor factory A seven floor factory A Company Disney subcontracts to make their merchandise. A Company Disney subcontracts to make their merchandise. Why? To avoid direct connection to the sweatshop Why? To avoid direct connection to the sweatshop Approximately 60% women workers Approximately 60% women workers Approximately 85% of workers are aged Approximately 85% of workers are aged 16-25

Worker Wages Sewers earn 11 to 20 cents / hour Sewers earn 11 to 20 cents / hour Helpers earn 7-8 cents / hour Helpers earn 7-8 cents / hour Workers usually are cheated of their pay Workers usually are cheated of their pay Routinely paid late Routinely paid late

Typical Shift for a Worker 8:00am to 1:00pm (work for 5 hours) 8:00am to 1:00pm (work for 5 hours) 1:00 pm to 2:00pm (lunch break) 1:00 pm to 2:00pm (lunch break) 2:00pm to 5:00pm (work for 3 hours) 2:00pm to 5:00pm (work for 3 hours) 5:00pm to 10:00pm (work 5 hours overtime) 5:00pm to 10:00pm (work 5 hours overtime)

Other Companies Nike, Adidas, Puma Nike, Adidas, Puma Reebok, Fila Reebok, Fila Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Wal-Mart, JC Penny Wal-Mart, JC Penny Levi Strauss Levi Strauss Dell, Apple, Hewlett - Packard Dell, Apple, Hewlett - Packard

Fighting Back International Labour Organization (ILO) International Labour Organization (ILO) o UN agency o seeks social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. Sweatshop Watch Sweatshop Watch o coalition committed to eliminating the exploitation that occurs and the illegal and inhumane conditions that characterize sweatshops.

Tying in With Labour Studies Classes and Divisions of the Workforce Classes and Divisions of the Workforce The severe challenges of Unionizing The severe challenges of Unionizing Post Fordism Post Fordism Labour Equality Labour Equality Globalization Globalization