Facts and figures: at least these workers have jobs - surely that's a positive thing?
Tuesday, 10 April 2007 13:26
It's true that, for many workers, getting a job at a garment or sportswear factory is better than some of the alternatives - that is why so many depend on them. The fact that people are desperate isn't an excuse to exploit them. Workers aren't getting their fair share of the benefits they are creating for the big companies.
We welcome the fact that millions of people are earning a wage. However, this alone is not enough to lift them from poverty if employers can hire and fire at will, deny union rights, pay low wages that drive people to work inhumane hours just to survive, avoid paying sick leave and avoid observing maternity rights. For many workers, these jobs bring hidden yet more devastating costs, such as poor health, exhaustion and broken families, all of which are unacceptable and avoidable. Everyone wants and is entitled to a quality job that pays “just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his [or her] family an existence worthy of human dignity." (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23(3)).
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