In the developing world countries such as Indonesia andChina mass produce enough clothes to reach to the moon and back every day, thisroutine production and exploitation in the name of fashion by major brands hasincreasingly come under fire as they continue to under pay staff, and offer noadditional benefits while reaping huge profits from these suffering workers.
Ethical clothing guarantees that workers have not only been paid well but alsohave access to a range of benefits from maternity leave and pensions tohealthcare and education.
In December 06 War on Want published a reporting stating that mainly womenworkers in Bangladesh are regularly working 80 hours a week for just 5p anhour, in potential death trap factories, to produce cheap clothes for Britishconsumers for sale in retailers such as Primark, Tesco and Asda.
Primark, Tesco and Asda have all made public commitments to the payment of aliving wage to suppliers commonly calculated to be a minimum 22 a month in Bangladesh. I used to volunteer as a teacher in Nepal which is next to Bangladesh and the primary school teachers were paid around 40 per month. I know fromexperience that even 40 per month is a struggle for a family to survive on asthere is no welfare system to help. Even though the cost of living is muchcheaper than the UK and USA, the cost of living is rising faster than wagesmaking them even poorer.
Yet starting wages in the factories researched for War on Wants report were aslittle as 8 a month, barely a third of the living wage. Even better paidsewing machine operators receive only 16 a month, which equates to 5p an hourfor the 80 hours they regularly have to work each week. The minimum wage forgarment workers in Bangladesh halved in real terms during the 1990s, and manycomplain their pay is too low to cover food, housing and health costs.
Primark, Tesco and Asda have also pledged that their suppliers must not berequired to work more than 48 hours a week on a regular basis which is the sameas the European Time Directive that applies to UK workers. We are not forced towork over 48 hours per week, why should they?
Workers interviewed for War on Wants report can toil up to 96 hours a week double the supposed maximum and often lose their day off and face the sack ifthey refuse.
The choice appears simple, avoid dirt cheap clothes where possible and as theexcellent ethical campaign by Marks and Spencerssays, Look behind the label.
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