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Sweatshops. Look at the labels in your clothes – where are they made? Where are the brands/shops based that design and sell most of the world’s clothes?. What is the legal monthly minimum wage for a garment worker in Bangladesh?. £113 £32 £12
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Look at the labels in your clothes – where are they made? • Where are the brands/shops based that design and sell most of the world’s clothes?
What is the legal monthly minimum wage for a garment worker in Bangladesh? • £113 • £32 • £12 c. The minimum wage for a Bangladeshi garment worker is 1,662 Taka (£12.41 in 2006 prices when the new wage rate was introduced). The Asia Floor Wage campaign calculates that in 2009 10,754 taka (£80.30 in 2006 prices) is needed to pay for food and non food costs for a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Source: http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/campaigns/asiafloorwage
What would be a fair division of money between: £30 • Factory workers • Factory managers • Supplying agent • Brand • Retailer
Where the money goes Consumer pays £30 Retailer: £16.33 Brand: £11.16 Supplying agent: £2 Factory managers: 26p Factory workers: 24p (less than 1%)
Poor conditions found throughout supply chains • Permanently temporary employment with no contract (and no security) • Cannot join unions • No holidays • No sick pay • Getting into trouble if you're off sick
Poor conditions found throughout supply chains • Supervisors shout & use harsh punishments (lack of training, pressure) • Hourly wage so low that workers constantly have to do overtime • Managers threaten to sack workers if refuse overtime • No extra pay for overtime • Child labour
Positive things about the fashion industry for workers, their communities and countries • Jobs • Infrastructure • Factories and unions could offer health care, child care etc
Labour Behind the Label Supports garment workers' efforts worldwide to defend their rights. LBL: Educates consumers, lobbies companies and governments, raises awareness, and encourages international solidarity with workers.
Organise a Sweatshop Relay Plan and run a one-day sweatshop in your school Produce a product and sell it – give the profits to LBL
Sweatshop Relay • For a minimum of 7 -8 hours, recreate a factory production line, producing as many items as possible, in order to raise awareness of poverty wages and unacceptable working conditions that exist in today's fashion industry. • The relay should raise money for Labour Behind the Label and get those involved and others thinking about the issues in the global fashion industry.
Planning: things to consider • What item shall we produce? - Can we make the pattern easily? • How shall we best use our skills to organise the production line? • How will we time the processes? Will we swap roles? • How will we maximise production and profits? • What is the best way to make money? - Sponsorship? Selling the finished items? • How can we involve others and encourage others to think about the issues? • Other elements that create a sweatshop atmosphere – pretend supervisors