Posted on 11/05/2003 9:18:53 AM PST by Hugenot
“Hip-hop” candidate Al Sharpton, who claims to represent the oppressed, needs to speak to Sean “Puffy” Combs.
Sean Combs has been accused of producing his Sean John clothing line through Honduran sweatshops.
Director of National Labor Committee Charles Kernaghan released a report alleging that he has observed poor working conditions in the southeast textiles factory in Choloma, Honduras.
He added that the workers are subjected to daily body searches and contaminated drinking water. For 11 to 12 hour daily shifts, the workers receive 24 cents for every $50 Sean John sweater they produce.
It has also been reported that the women were given mandatory pregnancy tests and if pregnant, were fired.
Sean John Executive Vice President John Tweedy retorted, “We had absolutely no knowledge of the situation; however, we take these matters very seriously. We have a director of compliance who will look into this matter immediately.”
Sean Combs said, “I take this issue very seriously. I am determined to get to the bottom of this.”
"We don't mean to be obvious, but presumably among the criteria defining a 'sweatshop' is that its workers actually, uh, sweat,"
Turns out the place is air-conditioned. Also the workers earn on a industry average about twice the local wage they could otherwise get.
(crickets chirping)
That's right.....nothing. As underpaid as these people are, it's better than nothing.
He added that the workers are subjected to daily body searches
That can happen in jobs anywhere. If you don't like it, don't work there. You practically get this level of intrusion in our public schools.
and contaminated drinking water.
First, all drinking water is contaminated, but the question is to what level. Is the water worse than the water these people drink the rest of the day? I doubt it. They're not going to be serving Evian there.
For 11 to 12 hour daily shifts,
How many of us in the U.S. have done this? Let's see a show of hands. There were times in the Army where I ran over 50 hours without sleep. Can I file a grievance?
the workers receive 24 cents for every $50 Sean John sweater they produce.
Like I said, higher than the average local wage. But in addition to their salary, we have raw materials (which need to be shipped), factory cost, bribes to officials (nothing gets done down there otherwise), inland transportation, loading, shipping, unloading (CA dockworkers make over $80K a year), inland shipping, warehousing, shipping again, retail warehousing, shipping again, retail store, and royalties to Sean (minus management cut).
At all levels we have people getting paid for their work, taxes, management and other overhead, and -- heaven forbid -- profit. So, what's their problem with $50?
That's nothing, just ask a doctor in residency.
Why?
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