The tragedies in third world countries, including the Bangladesh factory collapse (April 2013) and factory fire (November 2012) show that something needs to change in the clothing industry.
These third world factories supply a number of companies in the west, such as Walmart, Gap, H&M, Primark and more. The workers in these factories work extremely long hours and get paid an absolute minimum.
The factories the West's garments are made in are extremely hazardous and would not pass the West's Health and Safety laws. So why should they be expectable in the third world where clothes are made for OUR benefit?
The big companies that use these factories should insist on independent oversights of the working condition. Just because they're out of sight, they shouldn't be out of mind. Companies have 'rejected' this in the past because of costs but isn't it worth it? Organisers for independent inspection say that they could be funded for as little as 10% per item. A small price to pay which would make minimal dents in companies billion pound profits.
Reference: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/29/2576913/low-wage-workers-pay-steep-price.html
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