Sweatshops in Bangladesh
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
April 25, 2013 2:36pm CST
I was appalled and sickened by the building collapse in Bangladesh the other day and especially the loss of life. Puts the Boston Bombings to shame..and everything into perspective don't you think?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/bangladesh/10019296/Bangladesh-as-survivors-were-led-out-their-tomb-they-wept-and-shook.html
In total, I think there were around 600 people working in that building and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be whole families that have been killed in that disaster.
What sickens me even more is the fact we - in the West - allow it to happen. So long as the Big Boys continue to employ people there on lower wages customers here will continue to buy their garments..because they're cheap.
Apparently, the survivors could not say who they were making the garments for as the labels are put on afterwards. How convenient for the Big Boys.
Remember the bedding I told you about? I thought that it would be brilliant quality coming from Portugal but it isn't. There is a hole in the seam (down one side) already and it's only been washed once.
The red bedding I have from NEXT (not the stuff that was undelivered) that I bought some time ago, well, that's from Bangladesh (I'm ashamed to say) and that makes my skin itch whenever it goes next to my skin, presumably from the dyes, I don't know.
What I'm trying to say is..the conditions over there are terrible for the workers, therefore the quality of garment will decrease as a result. Bad morale in the workplace (wherever that may be) isn't good and the fact warnings about the cracked walls were ignored by the buildings' owners tells you everything you need to know about the system in Bangladesh.
I can never understand those who moan about Unions. I doubt such activism exists (or is extremely limited) in countries like Bangladesh and China, although, from the protests I've seen from the survivors (who broke my heart brandishing photographs of the missing), I think it will all 'kick off' very soon. It's such a shame a tragedy such as this has been the only way to publicise what's been going on.
What sickens me even more is the fact we - in the West - allow it to happen. So long as the Big Boys continue to employ people there on lower wages customers here will continue to buy their garments..because they're cheap.
Apparently, the survivors could not say who they were making the garments for as the labels are put on afterwards. How convenient for the Big Boys.
Remember the bedding I told you about? I thought that it would be brilliant quality coming from Portugal but it isn't. There is a hole in the seam (down one side) already and it's only been washed once.
The red bedding I have from NEXT (not the stuff that was undelivered) that I bought some time ago, well, that's from Bangladesh (I'm ashamed to say) and that makes my skin itch whenever it goes next to my skin, presumably from the dyes, I don't know.
What I'm trying to say is..the conditions over there are terrible for the workers, therefore the quality of garment will decrease as a result. Bad morale in the workplace (wherever that may be) isn't good and the fact warnings about the cracked walls were ignored by the buildings' owners tells you everything you need to know about the system in Bangladesh.
I can never understand those who moan about Unions. I doubt such activism exists (or is extremely limited) in countries like Bangladesh and China, although, from the protests I've seen from the survivors (who broke my heart brandishing photographs of the missing), I think it will all 'kick off' very soon. It's such a shame a tragedy such as this has been the only way to publicise what's been going on.2 people like this
9 responses
@vandana7 (98927)
• India
26 Apr 13
You forgot India...we are in the same boat...:(
Here people are corrupt so they mix mud in the cement and use it. Obviously when a person buys the built up structure it looks fine because of the paint and new finishing. However, we can never be certain how long the building will last. They use rusted iron, their try to build without the required number of pillars. The setbacks are compromised ...even common areas are sold. If there be fire, we are doomed because even firemen cant help us. The drawings that they submit to the authorities for permissions differ from those on ground. If the government authorities come to inspect the building while under construction, then they are bribed. But all this would not be there if the government would promote family planning aggressively. There would be less demand, so builders would be wooing us with better quality.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98927)
• India
28 Apr 13
They are possibly threatened...they and their family members..some are even killed. :)
Yeah...government started a new thing recently to curb such unscrupulous practicies. Government takes over one floor of constructed building, and it is released only when everything is found to be exactly as it is stated in the drawings and approval. Bribing government official would not help because it would be easy to identify which government official accepted that bribe. Good move...
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
26 Apr 13
I'm sorry I forgot India my friend, it's just the building collapse was in Bangladesh so I focused on that.
Many thanks for enlightening me on the situation in India. It's horrendous (from what you have said) what goes on there.
I did wonder - looking at the rubble of the Bangladesh building - how it was constructed and I reckon a similar thing has happened there. Obviously, it hasn't been constructed in a safe manner.
Don't the Human Rights people become involved in trying to change things or do they get bribed as well?
I did wonder - looking at the rubble of the Bangladesh building - how it was constructed and I reckon a similar thing has happened there. Obviously, it hasn't been constructed in a safe manner.
Don't the Human Rights people become involved in trying to change things or do they get bribed as well?
@dagami (1158)
• Rome, Italy
25 Apr 13
bangladesh is known for its good quality cotton. lots of world famous brands have their clothing made there. they engage a local businessman to do the garments according to their specific designs and materials and they save lots of money. the local businessmen are ones exploiting their workers. they earn a lot from these contracts but their workers are underpaid and the working conditions are awful.
their government should be more vigilant on these businesses. the authorities should conduct regular inspections about the health and safety precautions in these factories. and you're right, labor unions would be helpful in dealing with these businessmen in order that the benefits and wages that are established by law would be duly received by the workers.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Apr 13
I find it so upsetting that the workers are exploited in such a way. I mean, they haven't got much choice other than to work within the industry have they?
I think our William Hague (Foreign Secretary) should get on the case. He's a brilliant Statesman and gets things done. He's far better than our Clown Prime Minister David Cameron. He hasn't got a clue.
We owe it to the workers...oh, and the government there should be held to account but I've no idea how. Companies pulling out, perhaps..although that wouldn't help the workforce would it?
Catch 22.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
26 Apr 13
I read that although most companies vacated the building once it was discovered to be dangerous, the one supplying Primark insisted that the workers, mostly women, came in. Britain abolished legalised sweat shops in the 19th century. Now we buy from Bangladesh instead. The supplier has changed but our morals have not. Shame on every single customer that buys from Primark now!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Apr 13
It's a disgrace, and it's why I try to patronize local (small) businesses when I can afford to. Problem is, for most people, they can't afford to go anywhere but places such as Wal-Mart that can be so competitive partly because of sweatshops like that one, and partly because they buy in such large quantities...
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Apr 13
I did buy some flat plastic shoes from Primark a while back that are made in China (what isn't these days) and I did feel bad about it. Unfortunately, like you said, it's so cheap in these shops that it lures everybody in. We don't have a Primark in Carlisle (but there is one in Blackpool where Mum lives) and people go on about it all the time here..moaning that they have to travel to Newcastle, which is the nearest place that has one. Ironically, even the dearer clothing found elsewhere is made in such places as Bangladesh, even my knickers, I'm ashamed to say..and I have to buy them from M&S as the fit from elsewhere er..isn't good.
Not all that long ago all M&S's clothing was made in the UK (the St Michael brand) and all they had to do was modernise and carry on making the clothes here, rather than just giving in and being like everyone else.
I do have British made clothing from a market, though. That's in Blackpool as well. Our market is terrible.
I have heard that teenagers will buy a top to go out in once (from Primark), then throw it away. In my day I'd go out in my little black dress (which cost a lot of money in the 80s but I had it years) er..more than once and accessorize it, so it gave the impression I'd bought something new.
Kids have no imagination!
Not all that long ago all M&S's clothing was made in the UK (the St Michael brand) and all they had to do was modernise and carry on making the clothes here, rather than just giving in and being like everyone else.
I do have British made clothing from a market, though. That's in Blackpool as well. Our market is terrible.
I have heard that teenagers will buy a top to go out in once (from Primark), then throw it away. In my day I'd go out in my little black dress (which cost a lot of money in the 80s but I had it years) er..more than once and accessorize it, so it gave the impression I'd bought something new.
Kids have no imagination!1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
27 Apr 13
Hiya Janey,
Not alone I was moved to tears seeing those women literally in a state of shock and men also.
I truly wish that they would abolish those kind of unsafe places to work in but it will take an awful long time for the law to be laid down as it should be.
Meanwhile I guess that they will go on doing the same things.
Here we don´t really have a way of knowing where the clothes come from there have been echos made about them being from certain famous brands that they were finishing off the garments for the famous brands.
It makes you wonder how many are involved in all this maybe we are only seeing the tip of the Iceberg.
We can only guess by the quality of the clothes checking the seams to see if they are well sewn.
Not that its really something to go by.
There is a certain famous Store here that does sell clothes from there but I am not mentioning them either.
Clothes and towels and bedding from Portugal are usually very good quality I think myself its a question of luck if you can find something that is really good and as to knowing where it comes from well that is another story.
I always avoid buying cheap shoes anyway as the soles of them are awful.
But what I most feel is for those people I really do.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
28 Apr 13
Hello Janey,
I manage to get the odd pair of "leather" shoes from around here and that is not many either at the moment our dog ate my two pairs of sandals so now I have a pair owing to me at least no I will make it two as they let him eat them all even the straps.
No seriously you know how can you know what you are buying? A lot of the clothes labels have "made in Spain" on them so you can only go by that.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
28 Apr 13
If only me barging in again these women could liberate themselves say set up a cooperative and offer their clothes on the internet, locally and as far across the world as they can and get a real wage for doing so.
Also if some of the women like me only know how to do seams and so on they could join too as everyone would count.
I would be willing to save extra money to buy "these kind of clothes" that you would know where they have come from too.
Really I don´t think its a way out idea either its been done before.
Like the spanish women that used to make lace things real lace I mean are being put out of work because of those big guys. Just an example really if only that could happen again you don´t have to be brave to make this happen and us girls could support each other across the world and cutting out the big guy a lot would be fabulous I think to give the small groups a better chance. What d´ya think gals where ever you are?
Soapbox speech over and out.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Apr 13
To be honest, I usually avoid buying cheap shoes as well. It's just the leather ones are so expensive now that I thought, 'Oh, stuff it!' and bought some plastic ones for 8 quid from Primark. They were made in China, as far as I know but I still feel bad about it. I've never bought clothes from there.
There is a campaign on Change.org (petition) that has been started by the leader of the garment federation (or something similar) and it's stuff like this that will change things as it puts pressure on the likes of Primark to do so.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
25 Apr 13
That is beyond horrible, Janey. I had not heard of this because of not having cable anymore. We have an outside antenna but I have yet to catch the news. In healthcare we never worked with unions. Some big hospitals have them but the hospitals I worked in never were run by them. I think the powerful unions can be good and bad, but clearly there should not be slave labor like this. I'm so sorry to hear about this happening.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45570)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Apr 13
I heard they get paid something like $37 a month. They work for so little that even China outsources to them.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Apr 13
Is that right? It's a disgrace and I cannot comprehend how that can happen but..corruption pays so I'm not altogether surprised, unfortunately.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
29 Apr 13
In the west: out of sight, out of mind.
The sad reality is, a lot of poor countries resort to this kind of business practices because they want to attract the 'Big Boys'. And these Big Boys just increase the problem by going to the cheapest labor that they could find. For them, out-of-sight is the fact that a lot of these 3rd party manufacturers are actually sweat shops.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 Apr 13
The West isn't responsible for the building though. He was local as far as I know and went on the run for a bit. Glad he's been captured as he needs to answer a few questions, don't you think?
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
25 Apr 13
one thing you have to understand we we go to a store to buy what ever it does not say this was made by adult or child we have no way to know till it is to late I am also against child labor other then when they are paid a real wage
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Apr 13
I've noticed now that some labels don't even tell us the country of origin (which I thought was illegal but there you go) and when I buy clothes I tend to go to the local market in Mum's Town as there is a brilliant stall there selling British made clothing. In fact, I'm wearing some of it now.
@blackrusty (3519)
• Mexico
25 Apr 13
all you can do at this point is just try to know what to look for to know it is real or not as we never know about all the knock offs and they change almost daily
