When it comes to identifying which companies use sweatshops, it can be next to impossible. In addition to the fact that many of these companies actually do not have a presence in a specific country, there’s also the issue that many consumers are unaware of where their products come from. This is because most apparel companies have factories in countries like Bangladesh, China, India and Vietnam. However, some of these factories may not even be in those countries but in something called a “factory complex”. Nevertheless, if you see what companies use sweatshops for and how much time they spend developing their new products instead of their factories then you can quickly narrow down your search for answers.
What Companies Use Sweatshops?
There are a number of companies that use sweatshops, but some of the most well-known offenders include Apple, Nike, and Adidas. Sweatshops are factories where workers are forced to work long hours for low pay, often in appalling conditions. They are often located in developing countries where there is a high demand for cheap labor, and they can lead to serious human rights violations.
Importance of where the product is made?
The importance of where the product is made should be a key factor in any decision to purchase a product. This is because if you care about how your products are made, then you can also care about how much time, money and resources are being spent on production. When we consider quality and the environment, it’s important to start with the fact that many of these factories produce low quality products that simply cannot compete with other brands. In addition to this, there are many reports that these factories actually break fire laws during production due to extremely poor working conditions.
Environmental impact?
The environmental impact of a product is often ignored by many people. However, it’s important to consider this because if you care about the environment then you should also care about where your products are being made. If your company does not care about the environment then why would you think others will? Therefore, it’s important to consider this when choosing where to buy your products from. When it comes to sweatshops, there are many factories in countries such as China and Bangladesh that produce low quality and cheap products that are toxic to the environment. In addition to this, there have been reports of workers being subjected to toxic chemicals in order for their bodies to be able to withstand the extremely long working hours that are required for production.
What has been done for factory workers?
As we discussed above, some companies have actually started paying their workers better wages and ensuring safe working conditions in order for them to be able to produce high quality products. Companies such as Nike and Adidas have started paying their factory workers better wages with increased benefits including health insurance, pension plans, maternity leave and more importantly they make sure that they do not use sweatshops. In addition to this, Adidas has also made sure that they do not outsource production overseas but instead focus on making high quality products right here in the United States of America (USA). This is what is called “Made in USA ” which means that they use American labor and materials when producing their new products.
What are the benefits?
When a company chooses to use American labor and materials, they get the benefit of paying lower prices. This means that they can pass these savings on to their customers and make a profit which is why it’s important for companies like Nike to take this route. It’s also important to consider that there are many factories in countries such as China and Bangladesh that use sweat shops which cost them a lot more money because they have to pay their workers better wages. In addition to this, if you care about your customers, then you should also care about where your products are made because if you do not care then why would your customers care? Therefore, it’s important for companies like Nike to make sure that when they produce high quality products in America, they still ensure that their customers receive good value for money by making sure that their products are not produced in sweatshops overseas.
Theories About Why Companies Use Sweatshops:
There are various theories that explain why companies like Nike and other companies continue to use sweatshops. These are the explanations that I have come across on the internet:
Companies like Nike sometimes use sweatshops because they believe that it is cheaper for them to produce their products in a sweatshop than to buy from a local manufacturer. This is because many of these factories are located in countries such as China and Bangladesh where labor costs are cheap. In addition to this, when you have a high volume of products produced, then you will also be able to save money which means that you can pass this savings on to your customers which is why it’s important for companies like Nike to make sure they still make good profits by using sweatshops. Companies also use sweatshops because they believe that it is easier for them to sell their products if they do not have any quality control or any quality assurance measures in place which means that the products made in these factories will be deemed as being of better quality than other brands who may have used poor practices during production such as using inferior materials or using substandard processes during production which would result in lower quality items being sold on the market.
Benetton Group
Luciano Benetton was born in 1943 and he was a businessman who had an interest in fashion. He wanted to create a brand that would allow him to sell clothes that were fashionable and of good quality. Today, the company has grown to become one of the largest fashion brands in the world. They have factories all over the world, including China, Italy, Poland, India and Vietnam, among many others. However, they also have several stores across Europe where they sell their products at low prices.
Disney
- Disney is a company that produces several different types of products such as TV shows, films, games, theme parks and so on. They also have several stores that sell products made by Disney.
- Disney has also created several different types of stores where they sell products made by them. They have stores in different countries around the world such as Hong Kong, Japan and Italy among many others.
3.Companies like Disney believe that it is important for them to buy from factories that are owned by other companies so that they can continue to sell their products. This means that they will not have to pay for the cost of renting these factories from other companies but can instead make use of these factories themselves and make use of them whenever they need to.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. has been a leader in the denim industry for over 140 years. During that time, however, they’ve also come under fire for their use of sweatshop labor. In 2010, a report was released that found that Levi’s was using “inappropriate” manufacturing methods in one of their factories in China. Specifically, the report stated that the factory used child labor and faulty equipment.
Nike
Nike has been a leader in the athletic apparel industry for decades. However, it is believed that they also use sweatshop labor in their factories in China. In 2009, a report was released that stated that Nike uses child labor during the manufacturing of their shoes. The report said that children as young as 10 were working in the factories and were not allowed to leave until they completed their shifts.
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart is one of the largest retailers in the world and has been for decades. They have stores all over the world and have factories located all over the world as well. In 2010, an investigation was conducted on Wal-Mart’s use of sweatshop labor by a group called “Good Jobs First” which found that Wal-Mart used child labor during production at one of its Chinese factories. According to the report, children as young as 12 years old worked long hours for little pay making clothes for Wal-Mart and other companies such as Nike and Levi Strauss & Co..
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is another large retailer who has stores all over America but also shops all over Asia including Japan, China and South Korea among others. It was discovered in 2009 that Kohl’s used child labor during production at one of its Chinese factories which produced toys for Kohl’s. The factory had several hundred children working at any given time who worked long hours with little or no breaks forcing them to work up to
Adidas
Adidas is also under some heat for their use of manufacturing in China. In 2010, an investigation was conducted by a Chinese labor group that found that Adidas was “using sweatshop-like conditions in its factories in China”. Specifically, the report found that Adidas’s suppliers were “forcing workers to work 15 hours a day, 6 days a week and pay nothing”. The report also found that Adidas was not doing anything to address the situation. The investigation was followed by a number of other reports from other organizations that found similar things.
Guess
Guess, Inc. is another clothing company that’s been under fire for the use of sweatshop labor. In 2010, an investigation was conducted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) that found that Guess had several factories in China that “violated international labor laws.” Specifically, HRW found that workers were being “paid as little as $90 a month, forced to work excessive overtime, and held in potentially hazardous conditions.”
The Bottom Line
When you’re looking for a new pair of jeans, you don’t want to know that they were made in a factory that uses child labor, unsafe working conditions and no wages. However, if you’re looking for jeans that are cheap, you’re likely to find them in a country that uses child labor to make them. There are things that you can do to help raise awareness about the use of sweatshops by companies like Nike, Levi Strauss and Coca Cola. One thing you can do is boycott these brands until they start using ethical and safe production practices.
