15 Popular Brands That Still Use Sweatshops (2022) (2024)

FAQs

Do sweatshops still exist in 2022? ›

It's hard to believe, but many fashion brands are still using sweatshops. Child labor and modern slavery cases are still being reported, particularly in Asian developing countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and The Philippines.

adidas strictly prohibits the use of any form of forced labor or the trafficking in persons across all of our company operations and in our global supply chain.

Nike, Inc. has been accused of using sweatshops and worker abuse to produce footwear and apparel in East Asia. After rising prices and the increasing cost of labor in Korean and Taiwanese factories, Nike began contracting in countries elsewhere in Asia.

Our strict Code of Conduct includes policies against child and forced labor and we do not tolerate non-compliance.”

Forever 21 insists that all product suppliers ensure that their employees work in safe and healthy environments and that their legal rights are respected and protected. Forever 21 also shares the goal of eliminating child labor and forced labor.

Target does not knowingly buy or sell products that are made, in whole or in part, using forced or underage labor.

It was with the intention of preventing abuse in the workplace, especially the use of child labour, that Wal-Mart introduced its code of conduct. It specifically says the company will not deal with any supplier that employs children under age 14.

In 2016, the U.S. Labor Department investigated L.A.'s factories and found that huge brands, including TJ Maxx, Forever 21, and Fashion Nova were setting their prices paid to factories so low that it led to sweatshop wages.

While the Walt Disney Company human rights section states that, “we are committed to combating the exploitation of children and therefore prohibit any use of child labor in the manufacture of Disney-branded products,” ("Human Rights") there is a recorded interview of a Chinese worker in China that begged to differ.

Does Michael Kors use child labor? ›

Michael Kors -[Ok] Michael Kors has disclosed their supply chain in accordance with CA-TISCA and pledged not to use conflict minerals (often tied to modern slavery and child labor).

Although Apple isn't the only company that has gotten its hands dirty with sweatshop manufacturing and worker abuse, it's a sad reminder that many of Apple's “progressive” policies only go skin deep.

The report found that massive brands like Adidas, Converse, Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria's Secret and Billabong are “routinely breaking every rule in the book when it comes to labour rights”. A huge number of high street chains and sporting goods retailers are named in the report – there are 60 brands named in all.

Amazon does not tolerate the use of child labor. Suppliers are required to engage workers who are: (i) at least 15 years old, (ii) the age of completion of compulsory education, or (iii) the minimum age to work in the country where work is performed, whichever is greater.

However, despite Apple's futuristic facade, its labor model is backwards and deeply problematic. Indeed, Apple's cobalt batteries are built on the backs of child labor in mines, causing severe physical harm to children and violating international standards of human rights.

The company's website states it has a "strict no-animal policy," meaning no animal products or animal testing (which we love to hear). The company says it only uses faux fur and faux leather, and it prohibits animal testing on its products.

Labour conditions

But how much does the brand care about the workers across its supply chain? In its response to the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, Urban Outfitters briefly outlines some of its labour policies, including its third-party auditing processes and commitment to not use child or slave labour.

Our CoC is our highest ethical policy and sets out our zero tolerance approach to practices of forced or involuntary labour, child labour, and human trafficking of any kind within our operations and supply chain.

Adidas yesterday denied the vast majority of the allegations. "These allegations are based on old facts. We don't use child labour and we pay above the minimum wage," Jan Runau, the company spokesman, said. "We have nothing to hide and we are confident that our suppliers are following our business practices."

The charity was commenting on a report that three factories in India which supply clothing retailer Penney's were using child labour. The BBC Panorama documentary found that t-shirts sold in the Penney's chain of stores were finished by child workers paid just 76c a day.

Does H&M use child labour? ›

We take a zero-tolerance approach to both forced labor and child labor. All suppliers working for us must sign and comply with our strict anti-forced-labor and anti-child-labor policies.

Hershey does not tolerate child labor within our supply chain, and we are working to prevent and eliminate it within cocoa communities.

Samsung considers child labor as a serious criminal offense that is in violation of international standards and national laws in many countries. Samsung seeks to minimize the risk of children being trafficked or employed unlawfully.

Walmart Academy teaches associates around the skills they need to succeed while they're at work. From leadership to technical skills, you can build the skillset you want. Read more about our Walmart Academy.

Wal-Mart's huge reliance on Chinese imports illustrates that many powerful economic actors in the United States benefit from China's unfair trading system. Wal-Mart's gain, however, is not the country's gain, as their imports have contributed to the ever-growing trade deficit that imperils future economic growth.

Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, GAP, H&M, Lacoste, Nike, Puma, PVH (Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger), Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo, VF Corp, L Brands (Victoria's Secret), and Inditex (Zara) are amongst the fashion brands listed as sourcing labour from the factories that the Uyghur people have reportedly been transferred to.

Labour conditions

Zara again scores “Not Good Enough” for labour. Half of its final stage of production is undertaken in Spain, a medium risk country for labour abuse, and the brand received a score of 51-60% in the Fashion Transparency Index.

Another example of abuses taking place under third party supply chains can be seen in Zara's factories in Brazil. The fashion retailer is sourcing clothing from Brazilian factories that have been engaging in modern slavery conditions with workers working up to 16 hours a day.

For the past four years, Kohl's has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2022 World's Most Ethical Companies - one of only three honorees in the retail/services industry.

US' VF Corp, Kohl's recognised as most ethical companies in 2022.

Is TJ Maxx an ethical company? ›

Our business dealings and interactions are grounded in our long-held core values of honesty, integrity, and treating others with dignity and respect. We hold ourselves to high ethical standards and expect our Associates to comply with these standards, which are set forth in the TJX Global Code of Conduct.

On July 4, 1979 little Teresa Salcedo was the first baby born in Disneyland at California. But contrary to urban legend, she didn't get a lifetime pass to the Happiest Place on Earth. It's a surprisingly popular misconception that any baby born in a Disney Park gets a lifetime pass. But it's completely untrue.

Because all children under 3 can get free admission into any of the Disney Parks! It is important to know that the age requirement is UNDER three. Three year olds will need to have a valid theme park ticket but if your child is under 3, you are good to go.

Babies don't need tickets.

Children under the age of three are admitted into the Walt Disney World theme parks free of charge. You don't need to buy them any sort of ticket or pass for entry.

In the 1990s, the Portland-based sportswear giant was plagued with damning reports that its global supply chain was being supported by child labor in places like Cambodia and Pakistan, with minors stitching soccer balls and other products as many as seven days a week for up to 16 hours a day.

We strictly prohibit any type of forced labour in our supply chain, regardless of the country or region.

And in the past decade they have become manufacturers for Gucci, Prada, and other luxury-fashion houses, which use often inexpensive Chinese-immigrant labor to create accessories and expensive handbags that bear the coveted “Made in Italy” label.

Nintendo requires our production partners Page 4 4 to adhere to our policies and guidelines prohibiting slave labor, forced labor, child labor, prison labor, and human trafficking in sourcing, manufacturing and labor practices.

What is the problem with smartphone sweatshops? Smartphones, like many electronics, are regularly made in factories where workers do not have adequate training or protective gear for handling toxic substances.

Samsung Sweatshops

In 2017, a report on a large Samsung factory in Vietnam exposed the company for treating its mostly female employees terribly. The women dealt with neurological and reproductive problems and suffered severe health issues linked to exposure and overwork.

Does New Balance have sweatshops? ›

But New Balance responded emphatically that it does not now nor has it ever used the factory. The facility is owned by Likai, which is a major New Balance footwear supplier.

Are Crocs Made Ethically? There is no evidence that points to Crocs being made in a way that is unethical. Crocs are a worldwide brand, with over 4,000 employees worldwide. Most of their factories and corporate locations are in countries that are considered to be developed.

Our products are manufactured at independent factories around the world – and we're committed to working only with vendors who conduct their business ethically and are socially responsible.

This company was one of the "Fashion Fifteen" implicated in the report for irresponsibly sourcing tree-based fabrics such as rayon and viscose. Polo Ralph Lauren was involved in the notorious Saipan sweatshop case where 30,000 garment workers on US territory were abused over the course of ten years.

We never allow the use of child or forced labor in any of our operations or facilities or by our vendors or their subcontractors. We never participate in or condone human trafficking or slavery of any kind.

Sweatshops do exist elsewhere though, including the US and Italy. In the US, there's a particularly high concentration of sweatshops in Los Angeles, California, which is home to 50,000 garment workers who are mainly women and immigrants.

While there's not a specific definition of a sweatshop, they are commonly defined as places of employment with unsafe working conditions and lack of adequate pay. Working with this definition, we can objectively state that, yes, there are sweatshops in the U.S.

By the 1940s, sweatshop production faded under the influence of strong labor organizations, government regulations, changing immigration patterns, and the shift by manufacturers from small contract shops to large factories. In the 1970s, manufacturers began moving away from factory production.

Although the number of children in child labor has declined in recent years, 1 in 6 children between the ages of 5 to 14 years old are still in some form of child labor in developing countries. Sweatshops like employing children since they seldom complain about the working conditions and they are given a smaller wage.

Workers at Asia factories that supply Walmart, H&M and Gap are still being exploited in sweatshop conditions, three years after the deadly collapse of a Bangladeshi factory, according to a worker rights group.

What brands use child labour 2022? ›

This includes apparel brands such as Adidas, Nike, Old Navy, and H&M, and electronic brands such as Apple and Dell. Companies such as Forever 21, Ross, and TJ Maxx have been major offenders in regards to utilizing sweatshops located in the United States.

About 160 million children ages 5 to 17 around the world are engaged in child labor, working in jobs that deprive them of their childhood, interfere with schooling, or harm their mental, physical, or social development. Nearly half of them — 79 million children — work under hazardous conditions.

As industry grew in the period following the Civil War, children, often as young as 10 years old but sometimes much younger, labored. They worked not only in industrial settings but also in retail stores, on the streets, on farms, and in home-based industries.

It was not until 1938 that Congress finally passed a child labor law (Fair Labor Standards Act, or FLSA) that would later be upheld by the Court.

Under the Children and Young Person Act 1933, a child: must be 13 years or over before they get a part-time job. cannot work during school hours. can only work between 7am and 7pm.

As a general rule, the FLSA sets 14 years old as the minimum age for employment, and limits the number of hours worked by minors under the age of 16.