According to a report from the Institute of Global Labour and Human Rights, thousands of Southeast Asian young women working at the Classic Factory in Jordan, which manufactures clothing for some of the biggest brand names sold in the U.S. including Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's, Kohl's Lands' End, and Hanes, have been victims of repeated sexual and physical abuse. A six-month undercover investigation reveals horrifying findings:
- A standard shift is 13 hours a day, 6-7 days a week
- Women work over 18 hour shifts to finish clothing that must be shipped to the U.S.
- Some women only make 61 cents an hour.
- Women are routinely cursed at, hit, and shortchanged of their wages.
- Women are groped and fondled by managers to get them to work faster
- Women are repeatedly raped by upper management (one woman's assailant, a manager, bit her entire body leaving scars).
- Women who refuse sexual advances are beaten and deported.
- Women who become pregnant are forcibly returned to their home countries
This type of repeated physical and sexual abuse is wholly unjust and completely unacceptable.
Please join us in urging management at Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's, Kohl's Lands' End, and Hanes to end this abuse immediately.
We the undersigned demand an immediate end to the physical and sexual abuse of the thousands of Southeast Asian young women working at the Classic Factory in Jordan. The horrific working conditions these women endure every day are wholly unjust and completely unacceptable.
According to a recent report from the Institute of Global Labour and Human Rights, the women working at the Classic Factory in Jordan, which manufactures clothing for your stores, have been victims of repeated sexual and physical abuse. A six-month undercover investigation revealed horrifying findings:
- A standard shift is 13 hours a day, 6-7 days a week
- Women work over 18 hour shifts to finish clothing that must be shipped to the U.S.
- Some women only make 61 cents an hour.
- Women are routinely cursed at, hit, and shortchanged of their wages/
- Women are groped and fondled by managers to get them to work faster
- Women are repeatedly raped by upper management (one woman's assailant, a manager, bit her entire body leaving scars)
- Women who refuse sexual advances are beaten and deported.
- Women who become pregnant are forcibly returned to their home countries
These conditions paint a chilling picture. The women who help make your stores the successful ventures they are today are suffering incredibly. It is up to you to put an end to this abuse now!
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
