Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector

I remember one particularly bad factory in China. It produced outdoor tables, parasols, and gazebos, and the place was a mess. Work floors were so crowded with production materials that I could barely make my way from one end to the other. In one area, where metals were being chemically treated, workers squatted at the edge of steaming pools as if contemplating a sudden, final swim. The dormitories were filthy: the hallways were strewn with garbageâ€”orange peels, tea leavesâ€”and the only way for anyone to bathe was to fill a bucket with cold water. In a country where workers normally suppress their complaints for fear of getting fired, employees at this factory couldn’t resist telling us the truth. “We work so hard for so little pay,” said one middle-aged woman with undisguised anger. We could only guess how hardâ€”the place kept no time cards. Painted in large characters on the factory walls was a slogan: “If you don’t work hard today, look hard for work tomorrow.” Inspirational, in a way.

Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector - Washington Monthly, 2008 DOWNLOAD

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When: June 14, 2021 – June 16, 2021 all-day

Where: Online

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TAGS: Sourcing or Production Aquaculture & Fishing Food & Beverage - Processing & Packaging Asia

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