Exploited Dalit Girls Produce Garments in India for European and US Markets

Big garment brands and retailers have their products made under exploitative and unhealthy conditions by girls in Tamil Nadu, South India. The girls, mostly younger than 18 and from a Dalit ('outcaste') background are employed under the Sumangali Scheme. In its worst form, this employment scheme stands for bonded labour, as described in 'Captured by Cotton', a report published today by SOMO and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN). The report features case studies of four large manufacturers: Eastman Global Clothing Exports, KPR Mill, Bannari Amman, and SSM India. These enterprises produce for Bestseller (e.g. Only, Jack &Jones), C&A, Diesel,GAP, Inditex (e.g. Zara), Marks & Spencer, Primark, Tommy Hilfiger, and many other European and US garment companies. A number of companies have undertaken steps towards the elimination of the Sumangali Scheme, but abusive labour practices remain widespread.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• cotton
• garment
• brands
• exploitation
• unhealthy
• girls
• Sumangali
• Scheme
• abusive
• labour
• labor
• practices

[shtdafkkup]

i'm an engineer and i've worked often more than 17 hrs a day. it's in our culture. no where will you find people in india worknig less than 11 hrs, at least. except for may be at govt institutions. i agree many times poor people (need not be dalits) are exploited.

but these garment factories are the reason why they are alive. it's a difficult choice to make, hurts one's morale.. but if i stop buying these, and start buying 'made somewhere else':

1. they lose their jobs

2. their lives get worse

[lostickets]

Melafo

[omar3744]

No mames esto no es de ahorita en mexico ae ve y  aparte loa niños son entrenados como para trabajar para narco de la droga

[gabierzo]

Hay que boicotear estas marcas