THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND ITS FACRORIES

This article summarizes the information about the working conditions in the factories of the fashion sector. The purpose of this one is to remember and synthesize what is obvious as what is not about this topic.

The population knows that most of our clothing is manufactured in countries where workers rights seem non-existent. Another known fact is that the industry takes advantage of the poverty of that population who have no other option to work for any salary and with any working conditions. Companies argue this fact by saying that at least these people are being given a job, that is better than having nothing.

It is curious that even the European Parliament uses the term ‘slave labor’ to refer to the working conditions of the textile industry in these countries. They know by saying that how the current situation is in this sector, so the question is why they do not do anything to change it and not use that term to refer to that work.

Companies working in this sector have their own strategies to not lose money and continue to profit from this situation. For example, production plants often change location in search of lower labor costs. They are always looking to make a profit, if working conditions in one country improve, costs will rise and companies will move their production to another. However, this change is only possible with consumer pressure on companies and governments.

Many clothing brands assure their customers that those who manufacture their products receive at least the minimum wage. Nevertheless, in most countries where it is manufactured, the minimum wage is less than half a living wage which is the minimum necessary for a family to have its basic needs. This suggests two things: on one hand, if these brands pay workers this minimum wage, the other ones do not even pay that salary. On the other hand, these brands claim to pay their employees five times less than what a person needs to live with dignity.

The worst part of all this is that the fashion industry needs low-skilled labor, and child labor is especially common. In this sector more than 168 million children are forced to work. Another terrible fact is that workers in most of these factories are not allowed to organize into unions to defend their rights.

To sum up with this topic is important to reflect about how much information we have about this and whether the utilization situation is fair.