|
Well here is some depressing information… This report by the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF) is a study of garment worker conditions in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. The Guardian has summed up the report quite nicely, (or you can read the full report here) but the general findings were that many garment workers are still forced into overtime and not paid a living wage (in most cases, not paid the minimum wage.)
The report goes on to explain that very few workers are given permanent jobs, instead they have temporary contracts or are called in on a day to day basis. Targets are often impossible to reach so bonuses are never awarded, and some workers do up to 130 hours of overtime a month. The report is utterly depressing, and makes me think back to last Monday’s article about the rising price of cotton. We all sit here and say “this is appalling!” but are we willing to pay 10-20% more for our clothes, to know that the workers are paid a living wage?
How much extra are you willing to pay for one of these jackets, knowing the workers got over the minimum wage?
How much extra are you willing to pay for one of these jackets, knowing the workers got over the minimum wage?
I took a group of students to a factory in Vancouver one day, and the factory explained that some of their seamstresses get paid minimum wage. The students were shocked, and told me that the worker should get paid more. So we did the maths…
This particular factory (which, by the way, seemed to have excellent working conditions) made sporty waterproof jackets. Let’s imagine a jacket of this sort costs about $100 in the store. That means the store probably buys the jacket from the factory (this is presuming there isn’t a wholesaler in between…) for $40. Here is a possible breakdown:
- 2 hours to construct the jacket (minimum wage was $8 a hour) = $16
- Materials (fabric, labels, zips, etc…) = $8
- Profit (includes factory rent, machines, other salaries, marketing, etc…) = $16 (which is not very much.)
If we increased the pay to $10 an hour, then the cost of the jacket would be about $48 (profit has to go up if the cost goes up, as they are calculated based on percentages, not figures.) That means in the store, the jacket will be about $120.
Are you willing to pay an extra 20% just to know that the worker was paid a bit more? Your jacket isn’t better quality, the materials aren’t more luxury, the jacket won’t last any longer…that $20 only translates into an extra $4 for the worker. Is it worth it? Maybe not in this case. But if the worker isn’t getting paid a living wage (like the ones studied in the report) then I would say yes, it IS worth spending that money.
Victoria's Secret lingerie (left) and Levis jeans (right) are both of hiring factories that fail to pay their garment workers a living wage.
Of course, not many people agree with me, and until the companies using these factories are regulated, or the factories themselves are regulated, then I don’t think we are going to see many changes.
In case you are wondering, here are some of the brands using the factories mentioend in the report (NONE of which pay a living wage.) See the rest of the brands here.
- Armani Exchange
- Calvin Klein
- Converse
- Gap
- Levi’s
- Nike
- Ralph Lauren
- Victoria’s Secret
When I read this fantastic article by Alex, I knew it had to be posted as we are using more vintage and textiles are also one of the biggest land fillers. I do have my mum clothes, but when I purchase items, it is now vintage or sewn by designers etc, it pays sometimes to have a clear concience and this is only what my dear friend Paris Kyne was saying earlier this year. |
Fashions
