Conservative Movement Joins Religious Groups in Supporting "No Sweat" Initiative
From: HaMa'aseh A Publication of The United Synagogue/Rabbinical Assembly Commission on Social Action and Public Policy Vol. VIII, No. 3, February 1997
The Conservative Movement was among the more than three dozen religious groups to endorse former Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich's "No Sweat" initiative. Under the new Secretary of Labor, the Department of Labor (DOL) is expected to continue to provide the groundwork for a strong effort to take the anti-sweatshop message to congregations across the country.
"While the DOL is the enforcer of our nation's labor laws,... religious leaders -- and their congregations -- are the reinforcers," Reich said. "Our message is this: Sweatshops are wrong -- wrong not only for our country's economic future, but wrong, simply because the exploitation of working people is antithetical to America's values -- our family values, our community values and our moral and religious values."
Background
Sweatshops conjure up a vision of dangerous turn-of-the century garment factories, of rooms crowded with immigrant women and children hunched over sewing machines for a few dollars a day. But, they still exist today. Sweatshops are an ugly stain on American fashion, and it is up to all of us to remove it. America's garment industry today grosses $45 billion a year and employs more than one million workers.
Retailers dictate to manufacturers what, where, and when garments are produced. Manufacturers, in turn, purchase material and contract work among some 22,000 sewing contractors. Over half of these contractors fail to pay the minimum wage. More than two-thirds do not pay overtime. Thousands have serious safety violations that threaten the health -- and lives -- of their workers. Many companies in the American apparel industry provide good jobs, decent wages, and fine clothing, and they deserve our support.
But the firms that utilize and tolerate sweatshop labor make it harder for honest, law-abiding shops to compete in the marketplace. Both industry and labor have an interest in making sure that companies do not mistreat their employees. DOL's Garment Industry Strategy: The DOL has fewer than 800 investigators to protect the rights of those one million garment workers and the other 110 million employees in 6.5 million workplaces. Enforcement alone cannot begin to address problems rampant in the garment industry. To bring about change, DOL is relying on a strategy of enforcement, recognition, and education.
Enforcement
DOL's Wage and Hour Division conducts targeted enforcement sweeps in major garment centers and notifies manufacturers of the "hot goods" provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prohibits the shipment of goods made in violation of U.S. wage laws. Recognition: In December 1995, DOL issued its first Trendsetter list, highlighting retailers and manufacturers that have assumed responsibility for monitoring the labor practices of contractors that make their garments.
Education
DOL is spearheading a garment public service announcement initiative, which includes print and radio public service announcements and a new Internet World Wide Web site, to provide information to consumers interested in helping to combat sweatshops. No Sweat "Clues for Consumers have been distributed to more than 50 million supporters of the sweatshop eradication initiative.
For more information about the "No Sweat" sweatshop eradication initiative, contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Public Affairs at (202)219-8211.
