How sweatshops affect communities
This desire was also the push that closed down the UK clothing factories and moved them abroad to developing countries where labour and overheads are cheaper. Whilst the buyers and designers sat in their offices in the Western countries, they were little aware (or so they generally say) of the unethical practices going on in their partner factories. Such facilities earned the name 'sweatshops'.
Although it could be argued that this gave people a chance to be employed and learn new skills, ultimately it exploits the workers and pays them a pittance compared to what we pay for the finished items in the UK. According to research by the poverty fighting organisation War on Want, workers making clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh, received on average only £19.16 (2280 taka) a month, under half a living wage.
China has one of the largest manufacturing economies in the world, with thousands of people migrating from the villages every month to cities to work in factories. They have dreams of earning a good wage in a secure job and hope to have the opportunity to send money home to their families. In fact, the reality often involves working long hours, for very little pay, and experiencing bullying from the factory managers. Families become broken up and parents are forced to live away from their young children.
The workers get trapped in a cycle of poverty, and although many countries have a minimum wage this is often neglected. They are often afraid to stand up for their rights, and in China unions are even banned.
Child labour allegations have hit the news headlines regularly in the last decade. As is the unfortunate case in many developing countries, children can be forced to work either to support their family or because they are orphaned. Unable to finish their education, they are doomed to a lifetime of lowly paid manual labour, continuing the cycle of poverty for future generations.
The workers in these factories don't have a choice. You, however, do have a choice in deciding where to buy your clothes from. What will YOU choose?
