Report links Wal-Mart's school uniforms to Bangladesh sweatshops

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nysut.org/cps/rde/xchg/nysut/hs.xsl/newyorkteacher_11613.htm

Beatings, 19-hour work days — for $20 a month
New York Teacher - December 4, 2008

NYSUT and the state Labor-Religion Coalition are sounding the alarm over a recent report that links a popular school-uniform clothing line sold at Wal-Mart to a Bangladeshi factory that forces its workers to labor in extreme sweatshop conditions.

The JMS Garments Factory in Chittagong, Bangladesh, produces school uniforms sold under the brand name "Faded Glory" school wear.

A report by SweatFree Communities — an anti-sweatshop group based in Bangor, Maine — says JMS is home to some of the world's worst working conditions.

The report claims laborers at the factory are routinely forced to work shifts as long as 19 hours; exposed to beatings and verbal abuse; made to stand for several hours as punishment for arriving late; and paid as little as $20 per month — an income lower than the country's $24 per month minimum wage.

NYSUT and the Labor-Religion Coalition say it's important the public is made aware of the report so parents and schools don't unwittingly support sweat labor.

Students attending charter and private schools are often required to wear uniforms, and sometimes schools will list acceptable brand names and the stores where uniforms can be purchased in guidelines sent home to parents. It is also common for parents to resell uniforms online.

FULL story at link.