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Article

1 Jul 2008

Author:
SweatFree Communities

Tax Dollars Fund Sweatshops, New Study Says

U.S. states, cities, and counties are inadvertently using millions of taxpayer dollars to purchase goods from companies engaged in serious human rights and labor violations, according to a first-of-its-kind report released today by SweatFree Communities. The study… includes in-depth case studies of 12 factories in nine countries that produce public employee uniforms for nine major uniform brands. Subsidizing Sweatshops reveals widespread human rights and labor violations throughout the uniform industry, including: child labor; illegally low poverty wages; forced and unpaid overtime; verbal, physical, and sexual abuse; pregnancy testing, excessively long work hours causing physical ailments; disregard for freedom of speech or association; and elaborate schemes to deceive corporate auditors. [refers to The Bob Barker Company, Blauer Manufacturing Co, Lion Apparel, Cintas Corporation, Fechheimer Brothers Company, Propper International, Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company, Rocky Brands, Eagle Industries] [Articles below include statements/non-responses from 8 of the 9 brands mentioned. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Propper International to respond, but it did not.]

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