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                                                   SWEATSHOPS

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                                                   SWEATSHOPS

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A cheaper and affordable alternative? Or brutal exploitation and abuse of human rights?

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Youth and young children are tempted or coerced to work in illegal sweatshops in order to assist their parents financially just so they can enjoy the basic human rights that we all enjoy such as food, shelter and clothing.

We purchase clothes and other items without knowing where they come from, and some of them are made by child labourers. This is child slavery and a major social concern. In countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia or Vietnam children continue to work in dirty, demeaning and dangerous conditions for textile, or footwear companies. This robs them of the chance to get educated or go to school, and challenges them physically, mentally and psychologically.

This has to stop.

Majority of the children working in sweatshops are girls and their primary purpose for this sacrifice is to assist their parents. However the question is, why are female offspring subject to this form of modern slavery?

Women with children face extreme economic conditions, and the activities of males are often valued over those of females. So, it is not entirely surprising to find daughters working in sweatshops, rather than the sons. However, it is still gender inequality and a social concern.

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No Child for Sale: Stop Child Labour in Sweatshops | World Vision Canada

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Sweatshop series- Video Campaign (Deadly fashion)

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Sweatshop series- Video Campaign (Deadly fashion)

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In this Norwegian video series, a group of young adults travel to Cambodia to witness first-hand, the living conditions of people who work in sweatshops.

This  emotional experience was documented in an award winning series titled Deadly Fashion.

While watching the video, we see one of the Norwegians crying because she heard a story of the Cambodian girl, whose mother died of starvation. She exclaims, "Why can people live like this?"

While they might not have to stay in Cambodia for the rest of their lives, the little experience that they gained from witnessing and living these victims lives, was enough to bring them to tears.

This exploitation of women and children in developing countries, by corporate companies, needs to be curtailed. Women suffer economically, and are subject to lower status in society. They have to work dead-ends, low-income jobs to provide for themselves and their families, while the men who run these corporate companies, make money off them.

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Exploitation of women in Sweatshop Productions.

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Exploitation of women in Sweatshop Productions.

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A picture is worth a thousand words, however there are no words to describe the irony, hypocrisy, and social injustice that women face in sweatshops.

According to "The Women's Crusade" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, in East Asia, many women made money in jobs with long hours similar to the hours of sweatshops and sent their income back home to support their family. In other words they were seen as the breadwinners of their family. (Kristof & WuDunn, 2009).

As uncommon as this may sound, this made women in this region feel empowered because of the social changes that accompany the ability to make an income. However, Westerners viewed this an an exploitation strategy(Kristof & WuDunn

Women who work in sweatshops can earn as little as sixteen cents an hour an hour, in countries located in Asia, Africa and Central America, where most of the sweatshops are found (Roeland, 2017). While they are living in poverty and inhumane conditions, in the Western world, we purchase these products of unethical exploitation and are gladdened by the cheap prices without knowing that the women and children who produce them earn 1.2% of what we paid.

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Sweatshop building collapsed in Bangladesh (Rana Plaza)

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Sweatshop building collapsed in Bangladesh (Rana Plaza)

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The use of sweatshops goes beyond famous North America companies. It is used globally by many countries.

In Bangladesh, a five-story building called the Rana Plaza, collapsed due to the poor infrastructure. Thousands of lives were lost and thousands more were injured.

This plaza produced garments for many street known brands all over the world, including Benetton in Italy, Bon Marche in the United Kingdom, The Children's Place in the United Stated, Joe Fresh in Canada, Primark in Ireland, Texmax in Denmark and many more (Roeland, 2017.

This factory included banks, apartments and garment factories. Cracks in the building were reported on many occasions and no legal action was taken to shut down this plaza, or repair it.

The Plaza was owned by Sohel Rana who was a member of the political party in power in Bangladesh. The head of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, by the name Ali Khan, claimed that the upper floor of the plaza was illegally built because it had no permit. It was not designed for heavy machinery, and this contributed in its collapse (Roeland, 2017

Workers were threatened to come to work, or recieve no monthly pay if they refused.

The owner of this plaza, Rana, symbolizes the political and legal power that men have that can lead to gender inequality. This unequal share of power, where men make up majority of the lawmakers, tend to overlook issues that compromise the safety of women. Majority of people who worked in the sweatshop were women, so it is no surprise that Sohel Rana, who did not only have the business power but the legal power as well to discontinue this plaza, proceeded to endangering the lives of thousand and even caused the death of many.

The lack of female representation in the legal system, can be very brutal in a situations like this, because there is no one looking out for their interests of their lives.

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The abuse of women in sweatshops seems to be in the job description. However, the low-income, and brutal hours are not the only form of abuse that women face in sweatshops.

They face physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, but the most troubling is the forceful use of birth control.

In various sweatshops, especially in Bangladesh, women who get pregnant are fired, and to ensure constant productivity, women are forced to take birth control. The companies also do not want to pay these women maternity leaves, and any other benefits that come with motherhood. So not only are they denied the joy of motherhood, but they have to make this sacrifice for low-income, and also face abuse including sexual abuse.

With these jobs in sweatshop production, the women working long hours, for very little pay are victim of abuse, this also increases women's economic dependence on men, especially when it makes it difficult to find employment in a more benefiting environment.

The dangers in the workplace, lack of security, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, compromised safety are just some forms of abuse that women who work in sweatshops face everyday.

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When Rehana Parveen, 23, landed a job three years ago in a garment factory at Phulbaria - an hour's drive from Dhaka - she had dreams of a husband and a home echoing with the laughter of children....

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Nike is a very popular sporting company that manufactures a range of products from clothes, shoes and soccer. They are famous for their sweaters, sweatpants and most importantly sweatshops.

With over 700 stores around the world, most of the factories that produce Nike equipment are in Asia, in countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam,  and Taiwan (Daily Mail, 2011).

Nike has been the center of many anti-sweatshop campaigns, and yet there has been very little change in the ethics in which they manufacture their products.

The owners of Nike, Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, are no doubt the most influential individuals in the company. However, even aware of the statistics that show that 90 percent of women work in sweatshops, they have made no effort to change this.

This is evidence of men's higher status in society. Men enjoy a higher social status than women (Burns, 2019). This is the reason these corporate companies are made on the backs and suffering of women.

According to the UN, despite education, women find themselves in low-status, less-valued jobs, like working in sweatshops.

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A video about globalization and Nike sweatshops all over the world. Hope you enjoy it, please rate!

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Women who make $70 feminist t-shirts, make less than $1 an hour

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Women who make $70 feminist t-shirts, make less than $1 an hour

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"We do not see ourselves as feminists, we see ourselves as trapped."

This is a quote by one of the women, who created many of the t-shirts used in a campaign that was organized by ELLE magazine. Many celebrities were seen wearing this t-shirt, because "it is a symbol of feminism (Ellery, 2014).

However, the women who make these shirts, work 45 hours a week, and sleep in a room of sixteen. So how can this be a symbol of feminism?

It would be expected that the people behind this will be white men, who live in the western world. Instead the company that distributed these t-shirts known as Whistles was bought by the Moschini Group which is an African based company owned and managed by African men.

This goes to show that Sweatshop Productions is a worldwide phenomenon. Not only the western world participates in this, it is a global problem.

This particular example of sweatshop productions shows proof of women's lower status that their male counterparts. The greater economic power on men, increases the dependence of women on men, which is the reason these women are working extra hours in despicable conditions, just to survive.

Women lack economic power and this is directly correlated to their presence in the ranks of the poor. Hence, they occupy lower wage jobs in many parts of the world. "Poverty is said to have a woman's face." Poverty is associated with women, and is expressed in the gender wage gap between men and women, a phenomenon described as the "feminization of poverty."(Burns, 19 pg. 19).

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Feminist T-shirts worn by politicians are made in 'sweatshop' conditions

Migrant women in Mauritius are making the £45 tops for 62p an hour

They say: 'We don't feel like feminists. We don't feel equal. We feel trapped'

Machinists sleep 16 to a room and earn less than average wage on island

T-shirt is sold in Whistles in aid of activism group The Fawcett Society

Deputy chief executive of the charity Dr Neitzert said they had originally been assured the garments would be produced ethically in the UK

When they received samples they noted they had been made in Mauritius

She added that if evidence emerges Whistles will have to withdraw range

Harriet Harman wore shirt on front bench of the Commons during PMQs

Feminist T-shirts proudly worn by Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman are made in 'sweatshop' conditions by migrant women paid just 62p an hour, a Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed.

The women machinists on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius sleep 16 to a room - and earn much less than the average wage on the island.

The £45 T-shirts carry the defiant slogan 'This is what a feminist looks like'. But one of the thousands of machinists declared: 'We do not see ourselves as feminists. We see ourselves as trapped.'

In this special investigation by the Mail On Sunday, Ben Ellery reveals exactly what is like for these women...

They are the T-shirts designed to make a political statement about women's rights - but the female workers making them are paid just 62p an hour in an Indian Ocean 'sweatshop'.

Between shifts women making garments emblazoned with the slogan 'This is what a feminist looks like' sleep in spartan dormitories, 16 to a room.

And critics say the low wages and long hours at the Mauritian factories amount to exploitation.

The shirts have been worn by Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman, all keen to display their feminist credentials - even though the Deputy Prime Minister last night admitted he had 'no idea' where the garments were made.

But The Mail on Sunday has toured a factory producing the T-shirts, where workers earn just 6,000 rupees a month - equivalent to £120.

The figure is just a quarter of the country's average monthly wage, and around half of what a waiter earns. Each 'feminist' T-shirt costs just £9 to make, but high street chain Whistles sells them for £45 each - a figure it would take the women a week and a half to earn.

The retailer promised an urgent investigation last night in the wake of the Mail on Sunday exposé.

At one factory visited by The Mail on Sunday, a female worker told us: 'How can this T-shirt be a symbol of feminism when we do not see ourselves as feminists? We see ourselves as trapped.'

An official from factory owner Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile (CMT) told us he 'would not be happy' if the women left the work camp during the week in case they turned up for work 'hungover'.

Whistles, whose customers include the Duchess of Cambridge, is selling the T-shirts in aid of women's activism group The Fawcett Society - which receives all profits. The campaign is backed by fashion magazine Elle.

Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman wore a shirt carrying the slogan on the front bench of the Commons during Prime Minister's Questions last week, while the Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders proudly posed for photographs in Elle's 'feminism issue' in the T-shirts.

Fayzal Ally Beegun, president of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Union said: 'The workers in this factory are treated very poorly and the fact that politicians in England are making a statement using these sweatshop T-shirts is appalling.

'It would take a woman working in the factory nearly two weeks just to buy one shirt. What is feminist about that? These women have nothing in this world. They are paid a pittance and any money they do receive they send back home.

'They work very long hours and have no lives other than their work. They are on four-year contracts that mean they don't get to see their families in that time. What kind of existence is it when you are sharing your bedroom with 15 other women?

'The women have no careers or even the most basic of opportunities. This is not what feminism is supposed to be.'

Celebrities pictured wearing the feminist T-shirt in Elle magazine include Benedict Cumberbatch, Tinie Tempah, Eddie Izzard, Richard E Grant and Simon Pegg.

Yesterday a reporter and a photographer from The Mail on Sunday were given a guided tour of CMT's factory in La Tour Koenig, north Mauritius. As managing director Francois Woo showed us around the sleeping quarters he said: 'All of our dormitories are identical. There are 16 beds in each room. They are based on university dormitories in China. They don't need a lot of room because they only use them for sleep.'

He told us that the plant is one of six across the island where living conditions and wages are identical.

He could not say at which factory the Whistles T-shirts were made, but confirmed they made 300 at a cost of £9. 'The machinists at our factories made the feminist T-shirt for Whistles' he said, adding: 'All the machinists earn 6,000 rupees.'

Mr Woo instructed workers to smile as our photographer took pictures of them on the shop floor.

The tour was delayed when we asked to view the women's accommodation block. Staff made several phone calls and 30 minutes later we were allowed to view the bedrooms.

The 20ft square rooms are home to eight sets of bunk beds, each with a thin mattress and a pillow. Shelving on the far wall houses the workers' meagre belongings.

The women - who we could not talk to - work 45 hours a week basic and can earn more if they work overtime.

After the tour and without the company's senior staff, we visited another of the company's factories, in Curepipe.

Outside we spoke to one 30-year-old worker. She told us: 'I have worked here for four years and I have not been able to see my son or husband in Bangladesh during all that time. We work very hard, sometimes 12 hour days, for not much money. I send all my money home and could not afford to fly back and see my family.

'It is awful but we have no choice. In my country, the rupees I earn here are worth three times as much as they are in Mauritius.

'How can this T-shirt be a symbol of feminism?

'These politicians say that they support equality for all, but we are not equal.'

CMT has an annual turnover of £125 million. It produces 40 million T-shirts a year for clients including Topshop, Next and Urban Outfitters.

It employs 13,000 staff at its factories and about 4,500, all foreign, are housed on site. Migrants come from countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Vietnam.

There are around 2,800 female machinists. Workers are expected to produce around 50 shirts a day and face discipline if they do not reach their target.

Mr Woo said: 'The Mauritian government has set out a minimum wage that we must pay and we abide by their rules.

'I am like a parent to the workers. They are free to come and go as they please but if they go out on a weeknight I will not be happy because then they will turn up for work the next day hungover. If people didn't want to work for us then they don't have to, nobody is forcing them. If they have the chance to earn more somewhere else then they should go elsewhere.

'If they didn't like it, then we would not have existed as a company for 28 years.'

The factory was the focus of an exposé in 2007 when it was revealed that workers were being paid just £4 a day to make clothes for Sir Philip Green's Kate Moss range at Topshop. At the time, the factory employed agents who promised migrant workers good wages but when they moved to Mauritius they were told they would earn a pittance. The factory was also criticised for paying workers of different nationalities different wages.

Mr Woo added: 'A lot has changed since then. The workers know exactly how much they will make when they start working here and people are paid the same, regardless of their race or sex.'

Last night Dr Eva Neitzert, deputy chief executive at the Fawcett Society said: 'As a charity that campaigns on women's rights in the labour market, we take ethical standards very seriously. We have been assured by Whistles that the "This is what a feminist T-shirt looks like" range has been produced to ethical standards.'

Dr Neitzert said they had originally been assured the garments would be produced ethically in the UK, and when they received samples in early October they noted they had in fact been made in Mauritius.

They were assured by Whistles that the factory was 'a fully audited, socially and ethical compliant factory' and decided to continue with the collaboration.

'We have been very disappointed to hear the allegations that conditions in the Mauritius factory may not adhere to the ethical standards that we, as the Fawcett Society, would require of any product that bears our name,' she said.

'At this stage, we require evidence to back up the claims being made by a journalist at the Mail on Sunday. However, as a charity that campaigns on issues of women's economic equality, we take these allegations extremely seriously and will do our utmost to investigate them.

'If any concrete and verifiable evidence of mistreatment of the garment producers emerges, we will require Whistles to withdraw the range with immediate effect and donate part of the profits to an ethical trading campaigning body.

'Whilst we wish to apologise to all those concerned who may have experienced adverse conditions, we remain confident that we took every practicable and reasonable step to ensure that the range would be ethically produced and await a fuller understanding of the circumstances under which the garments were produced.'

Whistles refused to say how many of the T-shirts had been made, or indeed where

The chain initially said they did not feel they had been given adequate time to respond to our questions about the T-shirts.

But a spokesman later promised: 'We place a high priority on environmental, social and ethical issues. The allegations regarding the production of T-shirts in the CMT factory in Mauritius are extremely serious and we are investigating them as a matter of urgency.

'CMT has Oekotex accreditation, [an independent certificate for the supply chain] which fully conforms to the highest standards in quality and environmental policy, while having world-class policies for sustainable development, social, ethical and environmental compliance.

'We carry out regular audits of our suppliers in line with our high corporate social responsibility standards and can share the following information regarding the CMT factory in Mauritius.'

However the company acknowledged: 'We will require time to thoroughly investigate the allegations with the factory and our lawyers in great detail. CMT is one of the largest suppliers to many high street brands, including the Arcadia group [owner of Topshop and Burton].

When she founded Whistles, former Topshop executive Jane Shepherdson vowed: 'Customers cannot keep buying cheap clothes and not ask where they come from' - as 'someone somewhere down the line is paying'.

Last night, a spokesman for Nick Clegg said the Deputy Prime Minister had not known where the shirts were made. He said: 'Nick Clegg had no idea where these T-shirts were being made and can only assume that the Fawcett Society were unaware of the origins, or they would not have asked him to wear it. He remains entirely supportive of efforts to ensure all women are treated as equals in this country and the world over.'

A spokesman for Labour Leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Leader Harriet Harman would only say: 'This was a campaign run by Elle and the Fawcett Society to promote feminism and we were happy to support it.'

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62p AN HOUR: What women sleeping 16 to a room get paid to make Ed and Harriet's £45 'This Is What A Feminist Looks Like' T-shirts

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Feminist T-shirts worn by politicians are made in 'sweatshop' conditions Migrant women in Mauritius are making the £45 tops for 62p an hour They say: 'We don't feel like feminists. We don't feel equal.

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Website on recent European sweatshops gender wage gap

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Website on recent European sweatshops gender wage gap

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In every country in the world, the garment sector is the worst paid industry and there is also evidence of gendered division of labour in this industry.

The estimate of how much women make in the workplace is difficult to obtain, however official statistics show that there is a pay gap between males and females of around 18% to 27% (Roeland, 2017).

This gender wage gap in women can have many reasons. It can be because of the higher status that men, which can be expressed in job prestige. Also, the lower status women have, do not enable them to enjoy higher social status or higher economic status.The value of males in society is also a hindrance to to gender equality in the workplace.

A woman, especially one who works in a sweatshop, should have to earn less that their male counterparts, in addition to the abuse that they face everyday at work.

This social injustice is a serious cause for concern.

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There have been several protests against sweatshops, particularly against Nike sweatshops.

After many attempts to clean up their act, the company fell back into old habits and stirred up several campaigns all over the world. The image below, are women who were victims of sweatshops taking a stand against Nike. However, they are not the only people protesting (Bain, 2017).

Around the globe, various European, African and North American countries have joined in the protest of Nike's use of sweatshops (Daily Mail, 2011).

However, the movement is shifting to a Women Rights and Feminist movement. This movement is feminist in nature because up to 90 percent of the employees at sweatshops are female.

These companies take advantage of female laborers, to increase their profit margin (feminist.org). Women are subject to this modern form of slavery, because their low status in society does not create opportunities for them to have high-income jobs.

In addition, their dependence on men, and the employees which are predominantly men, makes it easier for them to sustain and tolerate abuse in sweatshops.

The issue of sweatshops goes beyond monetary value, but it is also about how poor women and children are forced to fight for their lives everyday, in disastrous working conditions just to survive.