| In the developing world countries such as | | | | cheaper than the UK and USA, the cost of |
| Indonesia and China mass produce enough | | | | living is rising faster than wages making |
| clothes to reach to the moon and back every | | | | them even poorer. |
| day, this routine production and exploitation | | | | |
| in the name of fashion by major brands has | | | | Yet starting wages in the factories |
| increasingly come under fire as they continue | | | | researched for War on Wants report were as |
| to under pay staff, and offer no additional | | | | little as £8 a month, barely a third of |
| benefits while reaping huge profits from | | | | the living wage. Even better paid sewing |
| these suffering workers. | | | | machine operators receive only £16 a |
| | | | month, which equates to 5p an hour for the 80 |
| Ethical clothing guarantees that workers have | | | | hours they regularly have to work each week. |
| not only been paid well but also have access | | | | The minimum wage for garment workers in |
| to a range of benefits from maternity leave | | | | Bangladesh halved in real terms during the |
| and pensions to healthcare and education. | | | | 1990s, and many complain their pay is too low |
| | | | to cover food, housing and health costs. |
| In December 06 War on Want published a | | | | |
| reporting stating that mainly women workers | | | | Primark, Tesco and Asda have also pledged |
| in Bangladesh are regularly working 80 hours | | | | that their suppliers must not be required to |
| a week for just 5p an hour, in potential | | | | work more than 48 hours a week on a regular |
| death trap factories, to produce cheap | | | | basis which is the same as the European Time |
| clothes for British consumers for sale in | | | | Directive that applies to UK workers. We are |
| retailers such as Primark, Tesco and Asda. | | | | not forced to work over 48 hours per week, |
| | | | why should they? |
| Primark, Tesco and Asda have all made public | | | | |
| commitments to the payment of a living wage | | | | Workers interviewed for War on Wants report |
| to suppliers - commonly calculated to be a | | | | can toil up to 96 hours a week - double the |
| minimum £22 a month in Bangladesh. I used | | | | supposed maximum - and often lose their day |
| to volunteer as a teacher in Nepal which is | | | | off and face the sack if they refuse. |
| next to Bangladesh and the primary school | | | | |
| teachers were paid around £40 per month. I | | | | The choice appears simple, avoid dirt cheap |
| know from experience that even £40 per | | | | clothes where possible and as the excellent |
| month is a struggle for a family to survive | | | | ethical campaign by Marks and Spencers says |
| on as there is no welfare system to help. | | | | …look behind the label. |
| Even though the cost of living is much | | | | |