Underage and working in fashion
Think before you buy! By Manjot Chana We all love to shop and treat ourselves to new clothes, but have you ever thought about who has made your clothes? Why do our clothes come so cheap? Where was it made? It’s because children as young as 9 years old in 3rd world countries are being forced to work in terrible unsafe conditions and are only being paid very little amounts of money, which will hardly pay for a living. It seems the fashion industry isn’t as glam as it sounds, because some companies and designers don’t care about the workers welfare as they just want their products made quickly. Would you like to be treated like this? The fashion industry uses it as a system to help improve the economy and to help financial and employability. As young designers hoping to work in the industry would you like to work for a company that allows children working under age? Imagine being 9 years old and having to wake up early in the morning to be forced to work 12 or more hours a day, whilst being locked in factory to sew garments till you was allowed to go home, and only being paid a few pounds a day which is supposed to help provide for your family…. When we were all 9 years old we had the chance to be children to play and have an education…not work. This isn’t right and it needs to stop! Don’t you think they deserve a normal childhood like us? Workers are treated so unfairly that they are beaten, sworn at and mentally and physically abused also they have been restricted on how many breaks they are allowed, which leads to the poor workers to suffer. The next time you shop remember to consider who made this? Even though we all love a bargain once in a while, but it may also mean to spend more money on better quality clothing because at least you know it has been made in a safe environment and someone has been treated respectfully and paid well for making the clothing.
