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