8.04.2011

conditions in a sweat shop…

Right now, I’m listening to a woman describe the conditions she worked in when she worked in a sweatshop making clothing… here are some snapshots of what she has described….

  • no safety measures (on sewing and cutting machines)
  • 18+ hour days
  • days and days of work when workers were not allowed to punch their time cards
  • 4 of every 5 female workers became pregnant after sexual assault. They had to continue working in the same conditions, in the same location, for their attackers
  • Chinese women were ordered to sign a "shadow contract” which forbade her from marrying, from joining a religious or political organization, from organizing a union, from lodging complaints about work conditions, and more
  • This woman worked in the US territory Saipan, responsible to US laws.

This woman now works for the Global Exchange, after winning an Equal Opportunity class action suit against her employer. Her story is inspiring, but sadly, so many are still trapped in sweatshops as labor slaves, even within US borders!

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