Bill Would Ban Sale of Products Made in Sweatshops

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/01/28/bill-would-ban-sale-of-products-made-in-sweatshops/

Bill Would Ban Sale of Products Made in Sweatshops

by James Parks, Jan 28, 2007


For some companies, “free trade” means finding the cheapest labor, forcing people to work long hours for little or nothing in sweatshops to produce products that are exported to department stores in the United States and around the world.

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) wants to stop this exploitation of workers by taking away the sweatshop owners’ profits. He has introduced legislation that would ban the U.S. sale of imported products made in sweatshop factories. In an innovative enforcement twist, the legislation not only would impose a $10,000 fine for violating the ban but also would give those who sell legitimately produced products the right to sue to recover damages from the ban violators.

The legislation, known as the Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act (S. 367), has bipartisan support. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined Dorgan to co-sponsor the bill, along with Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).


Workers in a factory in Jordan hold pictures of products they make for export to U.S. retailers.

A similar bill was introduced by Dorgan last year, but it failed to pass. However, with a new Congress, working families are optimistic the legislation will succeed this time.

Dorgan says the bill would help workers both here and overseas:

There is no reason for the United States of America to allow the sale of products made in slave labor-like conditions. This bill would help put an end to it. It would also stand up for American producers and American workers and tell them they don’t have to compete against those who cut corners at the cost of human health, dignity and even human lives.

Graham said many U.S. firms are trying to foster fair labor practices abroad and those that encourage sweatshop production should be punished:

Believe it or not, there’s a world out there where people are exploited—sometimes literally to the point of death—just to make a buck.

If you’re a business person engaged in exploiting people to build up markets share, I hope you get fined. I hope you get sued. That’s not the way to build up an economy. That’s not the way to have global trade, and it’s not in the best interests of America.

If it becomes law, the legislation could have a major impact on large U.S. retailers such as Wal-Mart, the nation’s biggest importer of products from China, which has a history of using sweatshop and forced labor.

FULL story at link.

[MADem]

1. Good...people buy WAY too much 'shit'

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

I mean, really, clothing has gotten to the point where it's damned near "disposable." It would probably cost more to make the stuff out of paper, fachrissake. And people buy cheaply made stuff, and it tears, or breaks or falls apart. There's something to be said for a bit of quality in the manufacturing process.

And perhaps, if people paid more, these people would get more money, have better working conditions, and in the end, make a better product that won't have "planned obsolescence" factored into the manufacturing process.

And since the jazzy new theme is the "carbon footprint" if we get just a little less 'disposable' in our daily lives, we'll ALL be better off.

[Greyhound]

2. I wish this kind of real change had a chance to get through the

sausage factory, unfortunately we all know this isn't going to happen anytime soon.
:kick: & R for hope.