Child Labor and Sweatshops are a Current Problem in the Fashion Industr

Child Labor and Sweatshops are a Current Problem in the Fashion Industry   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many societies face the much overlooked problem of child labor and sweatshops in the fashion industry. Recently, Americans were stunned to learn that their apple pie sweetheart, Kathie Lee Gifford was associated with the exploitation of underage workers in Honduras. Gifford's story began the resurgence of knowledge of the growing problem of sweatshops in today's society. Contrary to popular belief, sweatshops still exist across the world in both third world countries and super powers such as America. Sweatshops incorporate the inhumane exploitation of workers, many of whom are underage, by providing extremely low wages as well as expecting unrealistic time commitments. In addition, the workers lack benefits and very few sweatshops abide by the required health codes. Sweatshops are obviously a growing problem that will not disappear with out change. Although the United States government has begun to take steps to alleviate the problem, there must be an increase in both awareness and legislation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The belief that the archaic-like prisons known as sweatshops have been abolished, has been proven false. They do, in fact, exist in not only foreign countries but also in America. The abuse of human rights is demonstrated as more than half the 22, 000 garment contractors in the United States don't pay workers minimum wage, according to the Labor Department, and working conditions are deplorable...Americans were horrified to learn last August of 72 Thai laborers imprisoned in El Monte, Near Los Angeles, who were forced to work up to 22 hours a day, seven days a week at $1.60 an hour" (Yeh).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   More evidence is uprooted daily which... ...stry and Codes of Conduct. Online. HTML. Internet. 25 April 1997. Johnson, Paul. American Government. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. Knoebel, Edgar. The Modern World. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988. Nifong, Christina. 'No Sweat' Pact to Cut Garment Worker Abuse. The Christian Science Monitor Online. HTML. Internet. 14 April 1997. Reuter. Clinton Unveils Clothing Sweatshop Pact. Online. HTML. Internet. 16 April 1997. Wendel, Melissa. Fashion Majors, Don't Sweat It. Online. HTML. Internet. 14 April 1997. Wilson, David. Apparel Task Force Fiasco. Online. HTML. Internet. 25 April 1997. Wilson, David. Fashion Industry Forum. Online. HTML. Internet. 25 April 1997. Yeh, Emerald and McMurray, Christine. Sweatshop Bargains: A Shopper's Dilemma. Online. HTML. Internet. 14 April 1997. 1 Labor Alerts is a service campaign for labor rights.