A new look at Sweatshop practices that affect you! Please watch this video and take careful consideration to how you buy!
As you head out holiday shopping, you should be aware of the unscrupulous practices of some manufacturers of our top selling brands. Although “Made in the USA” label suggest that the product is being produced under US standards and laws, these labels are often deceptive.
It is not uncommon that the workers that produce these products are laboring under horrific conditions right here on U.S soil. Saipan is part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Many of these workers, particularly women are lured there by recruiters who promise U.S. freedoms; however what they get is labor camps with atrocious living conditions, physical abuse, debt bondage and sexual harassment. Most of these women are imported from Asia and many of the factories themselves, are Asian-owned (20/20 special investigation, 2000). The women are controlled by fear and domination. If for any reason they are fired or sent back to their homeland they are charged huge debts by their government officials that gave them jobs. (Collier 1999).
Many U.S. retailers have ties to sweatshops, most of which are foreign owned and operated. Nike, for instance moved its production line to Taiwan and South Korea when its workers demanded better pay and working conditions. When democracy took hold in those regions, Nike then moved its operations to China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Nike’s Indonesian factories are known to commit numerous violations of human rights and safety.
Workers are paid only $2.00 per day while being forced to work in an environment of toxic glues and chemicals without adequate training, masks or gloves (Morey, 2000). Fear is a common tactic to keep workers in line. Many are afraid to ask to use the bathroom, and women who are menstruating have to wear multiple sanitary pads and black clothing to hide blood stains (Morey, 2000).
Nike is certainly not the only company that utilizes these sweatshops to supply them with their goods to put on U.S. shelves at a bargain rate. Walmart stores, The Gap, JC Penny and many other reputable companies are all guilty of these practices that violate human rights and in particular women’s rights, as 90% of sweatshop employees are women. ( Global exchange 2000). Most are uneducated and vulnerable and are enslaved into this way of life being all they can hope for; their children are born into a culture of this being the norm and no reasonable means of escape. It is about time that these companies are held accountable for the treatment of the employees that make their bottom line possible. They have turned a blind eye to these practices for too long now and it is time that they either establish some fair rules to their suppliers or stop receiving the goods from companies that do not supply basic human rights and standards. Sweatshops are not simply a necessary evil of economic growth; they do not necessarily keep costs low for consumers and provide jobs. Sweatshops exist because of corporate greed, international trade policies (that push indebted nations to exploit their own people), and our demand for quick production, low costs, and high profits. Workers should not have to endure unsafe and unfair working conditions so that corporations and corrupt government officials can get rich, we all need to open our eyes to what we are putting in our shopping carts and hold these businesses accountable by boycotting the companies that violate basic human rights.
Here is another video that speaks of more abuse of workers
Jansen,C. "Six years in Saipan sweatshop still wear on former worker, Chie Abad, who aided '20/20' in expose, tells story to Catholics". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 6 Nov. 2000.
A new look at Sweatshop practices that affect you! Please watch this video
and take careful consideration to how you buy!
As you head out holiday shopping, you should be aware of the unscrupulous
practices of some manufacturers of our top selling brands. Although “Made
in the USA” label suggest that the product is being produced under US
standards and laws, these labels are often deceptive.
It is not uncommon that the workers that produce these products are laboring
under horrific conditions right here on U.S soil. Saipan is part of the U.S.
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Many of these workers,
particularly women are lured there by recruiters who promise U.S. freedoms;
however what they get is labor camps with atrocious living conditions, physical abuse,
debt bondage and sexual harassment. Most of these women are imported from
Asia and many of the factories themselves, are Asian-owned (20/20 special
investigation, 2000). The women are controlled by fear and domination. If for
any reason they are fired or sent back to their homeland they are charged huge
debts by their government officials that gave them jobs. (Collier 1999).
Many U.S. retailers have ties to sweatshops, most of which are foreign owned and
operated. Nike, for instance moved its production line to Taiwan and South Korea
when its workers demanded better pay and working conditions. When democracy
took hold in those regions, Nike then moved its operations to China, Vietnam and
Indonesia. Nike’s Indonesian factories are known to commit numerous violations of
human rights and safety.
Workers are paid only $2.00 per day while being forced to work in an environment of toxic glues
and chemicals without adequate training, masks or gloves (Morey, 2000). Fear is a common tactic
to keep workers in line. Many are afraid to ask to use the bathroom, and women who are
menstruating have to wear multiple sanitary pads and black clothing to hide blood stains (Morey, 2000).
Nike is certainly not the only company that utilizes these sweatshops to supply them with their goods to
put on U.S. shelves at a bargain rate. Walmart stores, The Gap, JC Penny and many other reputable
companies are all guilty of these practices that violate human rights and in particular women’s rights,
as 90% of sweatshop employees are women. ( Global exchange 2000). Most are uneducated and vulnerable
and are enslaved into this way of life being all they can hope for; their children are born into a culture of
this being the norm and no reasonable means of escape. It is about time that these companies are held
accountable for the treatment of the employees that make their bottom line possible. They have turned a
blind eye to these practices for too long now and it is time that they either establish some fair rules to their
suppliers or stop receiving the goods from companies that do not supply basic human rights and standards.
Sweatshops are not simply a necessary evil of economic growth; they do not necessarily keep costs low for
consumers and provide jobs. Sweatshops exist because of corporate greed, international trade policies (that
push indebted nations to exploit their own people), and our demand for quick production, low costs, and
high profits. Workers should not have to endure unsafe and unfair working conditions so that corporations
and corrupt government officials can get rich, we all need to open our eyes to what we are putting in our
shopping carts and hold these businesses accountable by boycotting the companies that violate basic human rights.
Here is another video that speaks of more abuse of workers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WutW8usfTTg&feature=related
References:
- National Labor Committee. (2001). "Made in the USA". http://www.nlcnet.org/Samoa/Daewoosa_Report_1.html. Retrieved November 3, 2011
- Bloomberg Business Week (2006) “Secrets Lies and Sweatshops”
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_48/b4011001.htmRetrieved October 29, 2011
- Educating for Justice “Anti sweatshop legislation” http://www.educatingforjustice.org/stopnikesweatshops.htm
Retrieved November 13, 2011