Sweatshop Labour

Description of Sweatshop Labor around the world.

What is a Sweatshop - By Haider

Sweatshops are factories or workshops, especially related to the clothing industries where the clothes are made manually without any machines, as the workers are employed at very low wages for long hours and the working conditions are quite poor. Sweatshops are defined to usually violate two or more labor laws. In developing countries, about 250 million children aging from 5 to 14 are forced to work in these sweatshops. The workers in sweatshops are often also subjected to physical and verbal abuse regardless of it you are man, woman, or even a kid.

USA - By Kagesan

Although most companies within the United States have moved their warehouses overseas, within the country itself, still to this day, there are sweatshops present. Although they may not possess the stereotypical image of a sweatshop, they continue to show similar characteristics to that of a sweatshop. Certain employers found throughout New York, California, and Texas continue to violate wage, health or even child labour laws. Illegal pay reduction, no pay, below minimum wage, unpaid overtime, and workplace abuse were all reported within the past two years, as it continues to occur even in the year 2015.

India - By Kagesan

India and China are two of the most common countries filled with sweatshops, but when the Prime Minister of India himself, promotes sweatshops, it goes a long way in proving the unethical human rights violations present. The Indian Prime Minister is out to promote and convince the world to come to India for cheap labour over China, in his newest campaign. Believed to be the world capital for child labour anywhere within 17-102 million children under the age of 16 are involved in sweatshops, and have worked or continue to work in them. Walmart, Adidas, and Gap are just some of the few companies that have outsourced jobs in this region, as an Adidas labourer could sew up to 12 million soccer balls in a year. Unfortunately do to the fact that, the country itself promotes the cheap labour, and attempts to convince countries to do business, to provide labour, it is an unethical form of labour, violating multiple rights of individuals.

Colombia - By Kagesan

Eliana Aponte / Reuters

Similar to many developing countries, Columbia also continues to use sweatshops as a form of creating jobs, and earning a form of wealth when trading with other countries. Utilizing children and women, Columbia is considered to be one of the top countries sweatshops are present in. Unlike certain companies that outsource jobs, Columbia also violates labour laws within their own warehouses. Women work for nearly a dollar a day in certain parts, picking flowers facing exploitive and discriminatory conditions from their employers. Flower exporting is one of the largest industries in Columbia, where most of the country's labour laws are broken.They have also attempted to prevent child labour on the other hand, by providing support to more families with children.

Nigeria - By Kagesan

Nigerian sweatshops are most common for there cheap labour and child workers. Children work for 5 dollars a day, typically 12 hour shifts with limited time for rest and break. The largest outsourcing company in the world Royal Dutch or Shell has multiple plants within the country that provide work for children. Nigeria is also known to have baby sweatshops where children are given birth to and then sold to buyers, whom in return use the children for work similar to that of in a sweatshop. The unstable government of Nigeria, has caused for sweatshops to open up to allow the government to also make a form or revenue.

Greece - By Tarun

In Greece there are about 100,00-150,00 children under the age of 18 that work. Some of these kids have left school or never even went to school in the first place. These children work full time and don’t do anything else but work. Even though there is a law set by the Greece government about under the age of fifteen is forbidden they are still considered to be contributing to the members of the family. Most of the children are helping out the families or making their own pocket money. For some children work is not that degrades them bodily. Some children work as beggars, prostitutes, thieves, drug pushers or organ donors and it is to condemn experiencing a lot of pain on daily basis.

Ukraine - By Tarun

In Ukraine to work the minimum age is 16, however industries negotiate with the government and hire children at the age of 15 with consent of their parents. Children who are the age of 14 can work on short-term basis in the social sector. Ministry of Labor and Social policy is responsible for enforcing child labor laws. How ever some children under minimum age worked in the informal sector. 6.8 % children worked in the ages between 7-17. In Ukraine many people are forced to work at coal mines where many families dig for coal in illegal mines and many children work in it.

China - By Haider

36% of the Chinese population lives on less than 2$ per day and are forced to work in sweatshops. There are approximately 150 million internal migrant workers in China who endure working conditions such as excessive and forced overtime, denial of social security rights and failure to provide employment contracts. These workers work under poor conditions where they are exposed to severe health risks. There are barely any unions in China that can regulate the working conditions and worker's rights which allows the multinational corporations all around the world to take advantage of the anti-union place as the workers are also not aware of their own rights and the Chinese government chooses to ignore the issue of abuse in these sweatshops.

Brazil - By Haider

In 2013, the governor of Sao Paulo approved a new law that had made it impossible for companies to continue slave-like labor anywhere in the state. States are not allowed to create their own labor laws in Brazil, so the creative "Jeitinho Brasilerio" was passed that will definitely restrict the amount of sweatshops. Before 2013, immigrants that had come to Brazil, from Peru and Bolivia were usually the victims of these sweatshops as they were hungry for work and had no other choice. After 2013 till now, Brazil has passed several laws which prevent workers from being abused by corporations that are seeking for cheap labour.

Iran - By Haider

Kuni Takahashi / Getty Images

Child labor has become very common in the middle eastern countries. Child labor has also become increasingly prevalent in Iran. Iran's government has done little to none to solve the issue of child labour. The lack of child labor laws, and societal support have created a climate in Iran where it is common to abuse and exploit children. Child labor is reported to be one of the greatest offenders of children rights in the world but yet it is still overlooked by the Iranian government. According to statistics 1.5 million kids in Iran are in the work force, and are working for sweatshops, so they can provide for their families or even provide for themselves. Most these "street kids" are known to be refugees from Afghanistan.

Russia - By Haider

A lot of the sweatshops from the Asian countries are starting to transfer over to the European countries such as Russia. The conditions in these factories are quite horrific as most of the people working in these factories are woman. Paid holidays, sick leaves and correct wages are like foreign languages to these factory owners. The workers in those factories don't paid for several months. When they do get paid, they get from $25 - 48 a month. The main sweatshop factory in Russia is known as Lipchanka.

Dubai - By Kagesan & Haider

Within Dubai, a country known for all of their old class architecture, the public is not made aware of the conditions workers face while building these buildings. During the process of building Bruj Khalifa, and now five 5-Star hotels, it is made evident that the conditions these workers face are of course unethical and dangerous. Companies hold workers captive, allowing them not to flee. These workers are typically immigrants therefore their passports are taken, and wages are barely ever paid. Usually making below minimum wage, at times certain workers are never paid. Workers are physically abused with weapons if they don't obey laws. If workers do argue, they are deported, or beaten for their actions.

Israel - By Tarun

Child labour is a serious problem in Israel. Children below the age of 5 – 17 have been working in Jewish colonies, south of Nablus and many of other children have been smuggled into Israel to be and work in drug trade. In 2007 the minimum wage low to the employed at Jewish settlements use to be $5.51 per hour. In 2012 Children were employed to pick, wash and package fruits and vegetables. They would work long hours in the difficult weather and throughout the winter and would get 50 – 70 Shekel ($15 – $25) per day and that would not include any benefits or insurance against injuries.

North Korea - By Tarun

North Korea is a nation in the world that refuses to join the International labour organization (ILO). They are forced to work and have no right to do anything else. More than 200,000 North Koreans, including children, are kept in the camps where many are forced to do labor, inadequate food and abused by guards. Arbitrary arrest and torture are some problems that they end up dealing with everyday. There is no independent media or religious freedom.

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