Sweatshops are factories with poor working conditions that violate labor laws. They are often crowded and unsafe, with issues like fires, rat infestations, and lack of ventilation. Journalists have exposed sweatshops used by major corporations to produce popular products. In 2012, journalists revealed protests at Foxconn factories in China that make products for Apple and other companies. Despite some reforms, working conditions are still illegal and inhumane, with long hours and low pay. Corporations and consumers must work to prevent sweatshop abuses through transparency, fair trade, and ethical purchasing.

1. Exposing
Sweatshops.

2. Sweatshop?

3. Term for a working environment
which is dangerous or unacceptably
difficult.

4. What is the Problem?

5. May be hazardous and subject to abuse
Sweatshops Around the World, 2008
Sweatshops Across the World, 2008

6. Crowded
Prone to
Fires Conditions Poor
Ventilation
Rat
Infestations

7. What is being done to
combat Sweatshops?

8. U.S. Law
An employer that violates
more than one federal or
state labor law governing
minimum wage and
overtime, child
labor, occupational safety
and health.

9. Chinese Labor Contract Law
Effective January 2008;
Meant to protect workers from
companies on the issue of
pay, overtime, health and safety
practices and to create fair and safe
practices for Chinese workers.

10. Exposing Corporations
Abercrombie Victoria’s
Adidas Converse Billabong
& Fitch Secret
http://www.thejournal.ie/60-big-name-brands-continuing-to-use-sweatshop-labour-130318-May2011/

11. “
(corporations)routinely break every rule in
the book when it comes to labor rights. A
huge number of high street chains and
sporting goods retailers...”

12. Because of investigative
journalism, injustices are revealed.
They ask the tough questions.
They connect developed nations
with the source.
Journalists have the ability to tell the “Little Guy’s”
story and expose the unjust practices of
multinational corporations.

13. Foxconn Factory in China
Products
Produced
Hewlett-
Apple Microsoft
Packard
Foxconn China, Tricia Wang;
Flickr.com (Creative Commons)

14. Creative Commons

15. Fair Labor Association Foxconn Investigation
• More than 60 hours/week
Hours
• Unpaid overtime
Pay • Low salaries ($360-$455 per month)
• Health risks
Safety

16. 150
Chinese workers threatened to commit suicide
in January 2012.
“Foxconn Resolves a Dispute With Some Workers in China”
– NY Times January 2012

17. Anti-Foxconn Protest in Taiwan, Courtesy of Creative Commons
Image by ttstam/Flickr, under Creative Commons

18. What was fixed?
Working hours adjusted to Chinese legal limit of 49
hours/week
25% increase in pay

19. “The report will include new
promises made by Apple that
stand just as empty as the
ones made over the past five
years” – SumOfUs.org

20. What about 2012?
Do you love your iphone?
We all do.
Do you love your cheap University T-Shirts?
Well despite laws in China, the country continually
uses labor practices which would be illegal in Europe
and the U.S.

21. April 14, 2012
Flickr, Creative Commons
"We have spoken to Adidas and they have
Accusations of sweatshop use in the production of
LONDON 2012that they are investigating these
assured us team uniforms sparked controversy
allegations, the conclusions of which will be
made public.”
Olympics 2012 chiefs concerned by Adidas 'sweatshop'
AFP – Sat, Apr 14, 2012

22. April 27th, 2012
A number of Foxconn Workers protested despite alleged
changes made to salary and working conditions
Creative Commons

24. GLOBALIZATION
Has changed the “game” in production

25. In 2012, Journalists from
Fox News
New York Times
BBC News
CNN
and Huffington Post
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
exposed the Foxconn Protests
Giving the public a sense of
where their favorite products
actually originate.

26. What Can Corporations Do?
“Companies could
present a more
transparent view of
their supply chain”

27. What can
you Do?

28. Try and Buy Fair Trade
“exercise due diligence when buying
from any company that makes fair-
trade claims. The willingness of Fair
Indigo, American Apparel and others
to disclose their practices on the Web
could help” – NY Times

29. Sources
“Secrets, Lies, and Sweatshops,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_48/b4011001.htm.
“Background on Sweatshops,” DoSomething.org
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-sweatshops
“Mass suicide' protest at Apple manufacturer Foxconn factory,” The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/
asia/china/9006988/Mass-Suicide-Protest-at-Apple-Manufacturer-Foxconn-
factory.html.
“Foxconn Apple Factories Violated Chinese Labor Laws, According To Fair Labor
Association,” Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/foxconn-apple-factories-labor-
violations_n_1389392.html.
“Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China”
http://en.cnci.gov.cn/Law/LawDetails.aspx?ID=6079&p=1.
“A Click on Clothes to Support Fair Trade,” New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/technology/25ecom.html?pagewanted=all.
“Apple Supplier Foxconn Pledges to Improve Worker Conditions,”
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2012/03/apple-supplier-foxconn-pledges-
improve-worker-conditions.
“Overseas Sweatshops are a U.S. Responsibility,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2007/06/overseas_sw
eats.html.
“Apple Addresses Foxconn Factory Report,” BBC News.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17557630.
“Foxconn Workers Protest Wages, Threaten to Jump off Roof,” Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/foxconn-apple-factories-labor-
violations_n_1389392.html.

30. Spring 2012
Final Exam
Communication Ethics
Aubrey Bellezza