First let me add that this issue is very important to me, and I plan on delivering this petition as soon as I can get the needed signatures. If you are part of Care2, you can add to my friends list so I can send you more information about future actions. To all who read this, Please PASS this on TO your FRIENDS, and friends of friends. Thank YOU!!
I took a trip to the Island of Saipan in 2005. On that Island, I discovered a billion dollar garment industry that supplies clothes products mainly to large corporations in America, with a "made in the USA" label. This industry is a constant violator of basic human rights, and perpetrator of labor abuses. This discovery led me to create the film I posted, that is about Saipan Sweatshops. The garment industry in Saipan represents a microcosm for all that is wrong with how our world treats the poor and less fortunate. So to stop this atrocity, will be a domino effect, that will change the way companies can treat the people that work for them, everywhere. Humans are not to be kept in barbed wire compounds to work all through the day. Especially young girls, who have their whole lives ahead of them.
Reasons to Sign this Petition:
The labor practices on this island are very poor, with little regard for human rights.
The minimum wage is set at $3.05 currently, and President Bush just signed a law that will make it go up to $3.55 on July 24 and only .50 cents a year after that. Saipan is an American Commonwealth, and bills like this one, H.R. 2066, go to show, the politicians cannot hide the influence they have over this island. This island also uses American Currency. There is no reason to have a minimum wage so low in a place that also recruits for the armed forces.
Poverty and crime are a problem in Saipan, and higher wages would fix this. Saipan should have a minimum wage equal to the United States which is at $6.25, now. This will also be included in the petition.
Garment workers are imported to Saipan from Asia. These are mainly young girls who are under the impression they are coming to America. Recruited from mainly poor countries and villages, they send money home to their impoverished families. (if they get paid) These are not greedy people.
On the island, they find themselves working and living in the same building.
All the garment workers stay in gated compounds, surrounded by barbed wire, that are guarded by security at the front.
They sleep in barracks, so they rarely have privacy, and many investigations done by news agencies such as ABC News, have exposed terrible conditions inside these operations.
Some of these girls are forced to pay up to $8000 dollars before they can even start receiving a profit. This forces the girls to have to work off their huge debt. So the better part of their young lives are spent working.
Then it is common for these companies to shut down, without paying their employees, and move on, when they have reached their quota. Only to start the operation again on a similar island, like American Samoa. There are always lawsuits trying to collect unpaid wages from these garment companies.
This leaves many of these girls, unpaid, and wondering the island, with no money, which leads some of them to the large prostitution operation on the island. This also is kept secret, though, many outside news agencies have reported that this is forced prostitution, with young girls who are also minors.
If these girls try to leave the garment industry, to get a regular job on the island, they are forced by the Department Of Labor to return to their old job at the garment factory. So these girls are treated like cattle to be herded into a pen.
However, they are real people. We must help them receive the conditions they deserve.
They must be paid a proper wage, they must have rights, that are protected.
There must be laws that insure they get paid.
There must be regular inspections ensuring a descent quality of life.
The girls must be aware of the situation they are getting into, through an awareness campaign, before they enter the island, or at Customs.
The garment companies must be accountable to laws that protect human rights, and the garment shops must be transparent, allowing inspectors from the outside to oversee the operation.
I stopped to take a photograph at one of these gated operations, and was approached by two armed guards that tried to intimidate me.
Most of us in the free world can quit a job whenever we want. These girls are far away from home on an island, and don't have the luxury of quitting and going home.
We must help them, and bring light to this issue. Please sign this petition and pass it on, so that we can tell the U.S. politicians, that we do not approve of what goes on in Saipan, and we care about these girls that work there.
Thank YOU !! Some news reports on this issue...
Dear Petition Signers,
First let me add that this issue is very important to me, and I plan on delivering this petition as soon as I can get the needed signatures. If you are part of Care2, you can add to my friends list so I can send you more information about future actions. To all who read this, Please PASS this on TO your FRIENDS, and friends of friends. Thank YOU!!
I took a trip to the Island of Saipan in 2005. On that Island, I discovered a billion dollar garment industry that supplies clothes products mainly to large corporations in America, with a "made in the USA" label. This industry is a constant violator of basic human rights, and perpetrator of labor abuses. This discovery led me to create the film I posted, that is about Saipan Sweatshops. The garment industry in Saipan represents a microcosm for all that is wrong with how our world treats the poor and less fortunate. So to stop this atrocity, will be a domino effect, that will change the way companies can treat the people that work for them, everywhere. Humans are not to be kept in barbed wire compounds to work all through the day. Especially young girls, who have their whole lives ahead of them.
Reasons to Sign this Petition:
The labor practices on this island are very poor, with little regard for human rights.
The minimum wage is set at $3.05 currently, and President Bush just signed a law that will make it go up to $3.55 on July 24 and only .50 cents a year after that. Saipan is an American Commonwealth, and bills like this one, H.R. 2066, go to show, the politicians cannot hide the influence they have over this island. This island also uses American Currency. There is no reason to have a minimum wage so low in a place that also recruits for the armed forces.
Poverty and crime are a problem in Saipan, and higher wages would fix this. Saipan should have a minimum wage equal to the United States which is at $6.25, now. This will also be included in the petition.
Garment workers are imported to Saipan from Asia. These are mainly young girls who are under the impression they are coming to America. Recruited from mainly poor countries and villages, they send money home to their impoverished families. (if they get paid) These are not greedy people.
On the island, they find themselves working and living in the same building.
All the garment workers stay in gated compounds, surrounded by barbed wire, that are guarded by security at the front.
They sleep in barracks, so they rarely have privacy, and many investigations done by news agencies such as ABC News, have exposed terrible conditions inside these operations.
Some of these girls are forced to pay up to $8000 dollars before they can even start receiving a profit. This forces the girls to have to work off their huge debt. So the better part of their young lives are spent working.
Then it is common for these companies to shut down, without paying their employees, and move on, when they have reached their quota. Only to start the operation again on a similar island, like American Samoa. There are always lawsuits trying to collect unpaid wages from these garment companies.
This leaves many of these girls, unpaid, and wondering the island, with no money, which leads some of them to the large prostitution operation on the island. This also is kept secret, though, many outside news agencies have reported that this is forced prostitution, with young girls who are also minors.
If these girls try to leave the garment industry, to get a regular job on the island, they are forced by the Department Of Labor to return to their old job at the garment factory. So these girls are treated like cattle to be herded into a pen.
However, they are real people. We must help them receive the conditions they deserve.
They must be paid a proper wage, they must have rights, that are protected.
There must be laws that insure they get paid.
There must be regular inspections ensuring a descent quality of life.
The girls must be aware of the situation they are getting into, through an awareness campaign, before they enter the island, or at Customs.
The garment companies must be accountable to laws that protect human rights, and the garment shops must be transparent, allowing inspectors from the outside to oversee the operation.
I stopped to take a photograph at one of these gated operations, and was approached by two armed guards that tried to intimidate me.
Most of us in the free world can quit a job whenever we want. These girls are far away from home on an island, and don't have the luxury of quitting and going home.
We must help them, and bring light to this issue. Please sign this petition and pass it on, so that we can tell the U.S. politicians, that we do not approve of what goes on in Saipan, and we care about these girls that work there.
Thank YOU !! Some news reports on this issue...
"We the undersigned", hereby petition for new and stricter laws forcing the garment industry in Saipan to abide by international human rights standards.
No longer can we allow the garment workers of Saipan to be kept a secret, forced to work for $3.05 an hour, while living in compounds surrounded by guards and barbed wire.
Saipan is an American Commonwealth, and therefore should be protected by our laws.
Saipan should also abide by our labor laws and our standard of living. The law H.R. 2066 sets the minimum wage to go up .50 cents a year. Please accelerate this to a level more equal to the $6.25 found in the U.S. to help lower crime, and make it harder for the girls in the garment industry to be taken advantage of.
A law must be passed preventing employers from charging the girls a fee as high as $8000 dollars, just for the girls to have the right to work for the garment company.
We must make it mandatory for these girls to be aware of the situation they could be getting into at the airport of origin, or at Saipan Customs. This can be done through handouts of information.
Dear Nancy Pelosi,
Please pass a law that forces the garment industry on Saipan to be transparent, and subject to regular inspection. The quality of life for many young, female, Asian garment workers is in your hands,
Thank YOU so much for reading this!!! And, Thank YOU in advance for helping this cause!!
We signed the "HELP STOP LABOR ABUSE at Garment Companies in Saipan" petition!
# 230:
6:44 pm PST, Dec 28,Jennifer Gardner, Florida
# 229:
8:11 pm PST, Dec 11,Candice Davis, Texas
# 228:
2:04 pm PST, Nov 3,Pamela Liang, New York
# 227:
12:14 pm PDT, Oct 4,Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
# 226:
11:14 pm PDT, Sep 19,Heather Puglisi, Japan
It's abhorrent that lawmakers have turned their backs on workers - just so US companies can profit. Made in the USA now leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
# 225:
2:26 pm PDT, Sep 18,Simos Tarabatzis, Greece
# 224:
9:15 am PDT, Sep 3,Frances M. Amaya, Texas
# 223:
3:07 pm PDT, Sep 1,Name not displayed, Jordan
After Medical greeting:
have the honor to submit myself to you , I Bassam Hussein of Jordan holds a certificate of Fashion Design and manufacture of garments in terms of expertise in this area more than 13 years.
Work with JCPenney Company of America, headquartered in New York A certificate from "JC People" magazine as eyes customer in 2002and also worked with the company FVC Asia from Hong Kong Quality Assurance & Sourcing Manager,
have experience in all phases of production from the first step product to the consumer even if you are interested darlings This is my hope that you find an opportunity I'm ready to any questions ,
Heading the Team of Quality Department in Jordan and Arabic counters.
Direct Quality Concern Communication with Buyers In depth knowledge in garment construction & Quality aspects of Woven's and Knit garments.
As I have got a good knowledge of our local and out marketing and factory's As well as because my direct personal relationships of other International and continental companies, fashion and producing clothes
With it's different kinds .I can work's on all country's Contras as Pakistan, I India, Hong Kong, china, USA, Europe contras And Arab contras as Egypt, Syria, Iraq, turkey etc.
knowledge of AQL quality requirements of garments.
Quality Assurance Auditor is also not only in clothing but also my experience in upholstery, carpets, curtains and children's saliva and other mineral also has the ability to direct marketing and manufacture of new investment opportunity, beautiful and fruitful and also to the capacity and experience in management and production team work in any area of the aforementioned.
contact me at No. 00962795836121 or E-mail: bassamhussien11@gmail.com
My skype bassam5533
thanks you
i working bfor with USA company's
# 222:
6:13 am PDT, Aug 30,MDHJohnHollyMKS Quinn, Georgia
# 221:
7:26 am PDT, Aug 26,Paul Wickins, United Kingdom
# 220:
1:19 pm PDT, Aug 19,Chum R, Canada
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 219:
1:02 pm PDT, Aug 15,Jillyanne Michelle Cape, Missouri
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 218:
6:18 pm PDT, Aug 13,David Peters, United Kingdom
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections. PROTECT THE HUMAN!
# 217:
3:31 am PDT, Aug 13,Robyn MacDonald, Australia
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
Why are labor rights important to you?
# 216:
1:12 am PDT, Aug 11,Maria Chua, Philippines
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 215:
6:16 pm PDT, Aug 6,Ron Stephen, Canada
Jobs will NEVER return to the US until the labour costs overseas include following human rights and safe work conditions.
# 214:
8:59 pm PDT, Aug 5,Derick F., Canada
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 213:
9:20 am PDT, Aug 5,CHIEF DUBIE, Missouri
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.in a world where money means everything, we need one wage, for all workers, except for the public servants, who should be the ones getting mininum wage, if anyone does!!!
slavery is illegal, and so is discrimination
# 212:
5:13 am PDT, Aug 5,Anabelle Prescott, Venezuela
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 211:
7:08 pm PDT, Aug 4,Steven Cousens, Washington
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 210:
10:19 am PDT, Aug 4,Sara Stevens, North Carolina
.
# 209:
9:59 am PDT, Aug 4,Name not displayed, Michigan
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 208:
9:58 am PDT, Aug 4,Ralf Schuetz, Colorado
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 207:
8:40 am PDT, Aug 4,Amber Flounders, Colorado
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 206:
3:36 am PDT, Aug 4,Jennifer Langer, Washington
It is our responsibility to help watchdog the areas that need help. People deserve to have a safe job that pays them what they need to subsist on.
Labor rights are a necessary ingredient to a peaceful world. We need to help those who need a hand.
# 205:
5:57 pm PDT, Aug 2,Bobbie Peter, Texas
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 204:
5:50 am PDT, Aug 2,Andi Alnwick, New York
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 203:
4:31 pm PDT, Jul 30,Mandy Johnson, United Kingdom
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 202:
3:42 pm PDT, Jul 30,Linda Bonura, Louisiana
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
# 201:
7:17 am PDT, Jul 28,John Peterson, Oregon
For more impact, Tell the U.S. Politicians why you think that the 'garment industry' in Saipan needs strict laws enforcing human rights, and transparency for regular inspections.
