Sweatshops: They're Everywhere

Sweatshops do not exist only overseas, in foreign countries, as many might think. They even exist right here in the United States of America. The most famous example of a sweatshop in the United States is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, a sweatshop that existed in the early 1900s in New York City. Many have probably learned about the factory in school, like I did in my American history classes. The factory was the working place for hundreds of women. These women worked long hours, received meager pay for their work, and were actually locked in the factory, so they would get more work done and not be tempted to leave. Disaster struck on Saturday, March 25, 1911. A small fire started in a cutting room (it was a garment factory) on the eighth floor. The fire quickly spread, and the hundreds of women frantically tried to escape. However, the exit doors were locked, and the one fire escape in the building had collapsed. As a result, many jumped to their deaths. 147 women and girls as young as age 15 died that day ("City Life at the Turn of the 20th Century").
          Sweatshops exist even today, even in America. In 1995, two major sweatshops were discovered right here in at home. In Los Angeles, 80 Thai immigrants were found to be working in a sweatshop. These workers were sewing brand-name garments to be sold at major stores but were only being paid a meager $2.00 an hour. These workers were being kept in a complex behind razor wire and with armed guards!!! The second sweatshop was one run by Wal-Mart. Workers, some girls as young as 13, were discovered sewing garments for a popular line of clothing for the national superstore. The girls worked 5 days a week, 13.5 hours a day (from 7:30am to 9:00pm). When rush orders started coming in for the clothing line, the workers were forced to work overtime and the children workers were not allowed to go to night school. Therefore, they were not able to finish their elementary school educations. Since the discovery of these two sweatshops, other U.S. companies, such as Nike and Gap, have come under fire for also using sweatshop labor to produce their goods (dosomething.org) , as can be seen in the video about Nike that I posted.
            Studies conducted discovered an overwhelmingly high percentage of garments factories in New York and Los Angeles (63% in NY & 67% in LA), actually violate law on overtime and minimum wage. The studies also revealed more shocking conditions: 98% of the garment factories in Los Angeles violated the standards for health and safety in the workplace by having blocked fire exits, poor ventilation, and unsanitary bathrooms. The term “sweatshop” can be applied to over 50% of these garment factories. The following U.S. retailers have been linked to sweatshops: Nike, Disney, Reebok, Phillips Van Heusen, the Gap, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Sears, The May Company (the owner and operator of Lord & Taylor, Hecht’s, Filene’s, and others), Federated Department (owner and operator of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Burdine’s, Stern’s, and others) and the worst, Guess? Clothing Co. Guess? Clothing Co.’s contractors have been cited so many times for sweatshop violations that the company is suspended from the Department of Labor’s list of “good guys” (doseomthing.org)
          Any thoughts? Did anyone realize sweatshops still existed? Do you agree with sweatshop labor, disagree? Do you shop at any of these stores or buy and of these brands? I know I do.