Topic > Sweatshops: Definition, History, Value

History Originated between 1830 and 1850 The sweater directed others in the production of clothing under harsh conditions. Sweatshops lured the rural poor to big cities like London or New York and gave them jobs. They were overcrowded, poorly ventilated and subject to rat infestations. In 1890, a group called the National Anti-Sweating League was founded in Melbourne and successfully campaigned for a minimum wage law. Criticism of these sweatshops is what led to all the labor laws, the minimum wage laws, the workplace safety regulations that we have today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayA very famous incident that brought to light the terrible working conditions of sweatshops is the Triangle Company fire in 1911. 146 people died because they were locked in rooms and could not exit the building safely. Many people ended up jumping from windows to their deaths or inhaling the smoke that had accumulated due to poor ventilation. You may think that these sweatshops are things of the past, but there are still many of these terrible sweatshops in developing countries around the world. In fact, there are 18 countries worldwide known to have these sweatshops, including Thailand, China, India, Vietnam, Mexico, and, VERY surprisingly, the United States! Have you ever heard of H&M, Nike, Adidas and Uniqlo? Well, these four companies are all well known for using sweatshops to make their clothes. In 2015, a large protest was held in Hong Kong against Uniqlo, and many protests were held against Adidas in Germany. The abolitionist movement of the 1800s was the first major critic of sweatshops, because they saw similarities between them and slavery. When slavery was abolished in the late mid-1800s, abolitionists wanted antislavery laws to include other forms of harsh labor, including sweatshop labor. England was the first country to pass a law against sweatshops. Factors contributing to the creation of sweatshops. Globalization. Many people in richer countries don't want to do the difficult, laborious work needed to produce large quantities of clothing, so companies move to developing countries. where people are eager for work and do not demand such high wages. Developing countries also have less stringent safety requirements and companies can get away with forced labor. Fast Fashion. Fast fashion retailers must keep up with rapidly changing fashion trends to meet customer demands , which means they have to react and start production very quickly. Sweatshops and cheap labor can produce large quantities of products in a short amount of time and at low cost, meaning they are ideal for fast fashion companies. This results in workers having to work very long hours without reasonable pay. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Government Corruption. Government corruptions and inadequate labor protection legislation in developing countries have also contributed to the suffering of their employees. Weak law enforcement has attracted capitalists to invest in these developing countries, which is also a serious problem leading to the emergence of sweatshops. Without reasonable restrictions.