Photo courtesy of Cara Metz, UNITE! Day of Conscience to End Sweatshops

Women make up 90 percent of sweatshop laborers. The majority of these women are between the ages of 15 and 22. Companies that use sweatshop labor to increase their own profit margins are taking advantage of predominantly young women. Injustices perpetrated by factories that employ the use of sweatshop labor are numerous. Women are paid as little as six cents an hour and work ten to twelve hour shifts. In many instances overtime is mandatory. In some cases, women are allowed only two drinks of water and one bathroom break per shift. Sexual harassment, corporal punishment, and verbal abuse are all means used by supervisors to instill fear and keep employees in line. Companies such as Nike, Guess?, and Disney should not be allowed to continue to increase their profit margins, using the sweat of hard working women. These women deserve to be paid a living wage, to be given a safe working environment, and the right to be free of unwanted sexual harassment.