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