You know that favourite jumper of yours? Where did it actually come from? Is it enough to know that it came from Topshop or Primark?
Discover the life cycle behind your wardrobe as we start the debate on ethical sourcing: FASHION.
Always thought sweatshops where a million miles from home? Well they might be closer than you thought as we explore UK sweatshops. The U.S Labour department define a sweatshop as a factory that violates two or more labor laws, such as those pertaining to wages and benefits, child labor or working hours. The home office estimates around 500,000 immigrants have illegally entered the UK this year. That means there is 500,000 people who desperately need work in the UK and don’t have a visa. With such a high capacity, factory workers can easily portray exploitation. The average pay in an illegal sweatshop is just 7p an hour and workers usually working long shifts, it’s time for a change…
For News and Updates in the Uk Border Agency visit: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-updates/
Channel 4 uncover the biggest illegal UK sweatshops in the series Dispatches: FASHIONS DIRTY SECRET. The programme features secret footage filmed over three months in a number of factories in Leicester making clothing for BHS, and Jane Norman.
Within the programme it unveils what life is like in these undercover illegal businesses and shows the unethical life for workers. Basic Health and Safety is breached and no protective gloves or eye gear is given to any of the employee’s. Little communication or relationship is formed between the employee and any other staff, not even a name is asked for the duration let alone if they have a visa.
An image taken from the ’employee’s’ undercover camera
Here’s a clip of an undercover employee and create your own opinion of the topic:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/video/series-75/episode-1/fashions-dirty-secret
But who is to blame? Is the foundation of the problem, the government? If immigration had acted correctly and recgonised that the workers are not eligible for employment they wouldn’t be open for exploitation within the UK. Are the factory owners to be blamed for? They are ofcourse the creator of the illegal business. Or is it the workers? They are accepting the terms of the factory so therefore are accepting exploitation. I feel we can not necessarily place all blame on one, all their actions direct the result of illegal sweatshops. But for change you must find the root of the problem, which is the government.
Its time to tackle the issue of illegal sweatshops! Have you had your own experience on the topic? Maybe you discovered a sweatshop on your road that you never looked twice at. Well start the discussion here and comment below of who we would blame and how it can be stopped.
Lets start the debate!
Laura
Everything Ethics 