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Child labor within the fashion supply chain is a concerning issue in many parts of the world. This problem occurs at multiple stages of garment production including sewing and cotton farming. Globally, 100 million children are involved in child labor within the fashion supply chain. Along with child labor itself causing a large concern, there are many other negative impacts that come with it. (International Labour Organization, 2021)
Child labor within the fashion supply chain is a concerning issue in many parts of the world. This problem occurs at multiple stages of garment production including sewing and cotton farming. Globally, 100 million children are involved in child labor within the fashion supply chain. Along with child labor itself causing a large concern, there are many other negative impacts that come with it. (International Labour Organization, 2021)
Worker's Rights & Conditions
Worker's Rights & Conditions
In the clothing factories of Bangladesh, one of the biggest populations of child labor, the working conditions and wages are very poor.
Rana Plaza Factory Collapse
Rana Plaza Factory Collapse
On April 24th of 2013, a clothing factory in Bangladesh collapsed. This collapse killed a thousand workers, and showed the result of the inhumane working conditions.
Child Labor within the Fashion Supply Chain is the Main Problem
Child Labor within the Fashion Supply Chain is the Main Problem
Some of the children who are working are as young as 7 or 8, and are taken as cheap laborers in these industries. They are forced into the workforce instead of education, and can be the prime breadwinner of their families. Their rights are taken away, and it affects their physical and mental wellbeing. Both boys and girls are victims of child labor, one industry that is under scrutiny is the textile and fashion industry.
The fashion supply chain relies heavily on child labor, and it violates children's rights to education, freedom and protection. Western companies have turned to countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh for competitive prices. These countries have cut spending at every stage of the fashion supply chain, and it has resulted in the use of child labor. They "can" be paid below minimum wage, and some children need to work to help their family.
In the last four years, there has been a major rise of child labor. Many of these children work long hours where they are being exposed to hazardous chemicals and overall unsafe environments including heavy machinery.
Source: International Labour Organization (10 June, 2021) Child Labour Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the Road Forward. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---ipec/documents/publication/wcms_797515.pdf
The Rise
The Rise
Over the past years, data collected from countries such as China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India has revealed a surge in fast fashion exports. This occurrence has been notably associated with the presence of big-name fashion companies exploiting these nations, indicating a correlation between lax regulations and the increased exploitation of children, particularly in sectors like sweatshops.
This correlation becomes more noticeable when examining specific sections, with it prevalent in sweatshops. The harsh working conditions endured by children within these environments raise significant ethical and humanitarian concerns. It shows the necessity for a deeper examination within these countries for strategies to secure legal protections against child labor.
With this trend already on the rise, it does not help with fast fashion being one of the leading causes of child labor. Child labor within the fashion supply chain has been exponentially increasing because they can send work to sweatshops from outside countries to do work for less allowing them to mass produce these products. This exploitation targets children who can be manipulated and pressured into working in these sweatshops.
source: https://sewport.com/countries-with-best-clothing-manufacturers
Top 7 Countries that have the highest textiles and clothes export
Source: https://sewport.com/countries-with-best-clothing-manufacturers
Total Amount of Textiles and Clothes Exported by Country in 2016
source: https://sewport.com/countries-with-best-clothing-manufacturers
source: https://sewport.com/countries-with-best-clothing-manufacturers
source: https://sewport.com/countries-with-best-clothing-manufacturers
Analysis
Analysis
Looking at different charts and graphs about fast fashion, we can see that the countries producing the most clothes often have problems with workers' rights. Most of these countries, like China and Bangladesh, are not only big exporters but also have a huge population. This means they are a big part of making clothes for the world but also raises concerns about how workers are treated. Seeing these patterns helps us understand the connection between where clothes are made, how many are made, and the conditions for the people making them. Additionally, these findings suggest that in these top-producing countries, there's a higher likelihood of workers' rights being violated, which includes child labor exploitation.
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