Two days a week. And during the other days no compensation - the regular workshift has still to be done. No sleeping in between because there is no bed in the company and the floor is too cold.
I am talking about women in Guatemala (Central America) working in the textile industry for the global, big brands.
Adidas, Reebok and Puma...
Another example: Adidas and Reebok contractor Chi Fung in El Salvador now opens their doors on Sunday morning - for all piece workers who "want" (or better need!) to reach the production goals for the coming week.
Increasing production targets with reduced incentives makes the life of these women and their families hard - very hard. The big brands want their trakemarked clothes always cheaper - but with still high quality. Earlier incentives were paid per day if a specific output target was reached. Now incentives are paid only after 14 days and only if the given target of production has been reached for each day.
Everything is based upon this benefit scheme - not loosing the incentive of 2-5 dollars is vital for these needlewoman and their families.
No need to say that the consequences for the health of these workers is drastical. No need to say that there is no health care system and no time to be ill. Usually at 35 years they give up or are laid off by the company.
My Consequences
Let's calculate: Working from 7h morning to 3h after midnight... this are 20 hours! While I am sitting here on writing my Blog and drinking a cup of tee (in my warm cosy home) one of these woman in Guatemala has worked already for 15 hours - and still has 5 hours to do.
Next time when I stand in front of a so-cool adidas tracksuit (or another product from the big brands) I will think three times about buying it - really.
The big companies have to keep ethic standards regarding the labor conditions of their contractors. If I (and you and you and you...) will keep an eye on them as consumers we can change the world - really.
Fashions Problems
The international Clean Clothes Campaign provides more information about fashions problems - check it out:
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