Sweatshops probe
from BusinessWorld
July 4, 2003

The House of Representatives is set to conduct an investigation on reports that workers in a garments factory in Taytay, Rizal are drugged to keep them awake to enable them to work non-stop for three days. Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Liza L. Maza vowed to file a resolution calling the attention of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) regarding inhuman labor practices happening in many sweatshops in the country. Ms. Maza reacted to reports that garment workers in Anvil Ensembles in Taytay, Rizal are forced to take anti-obesity drug Duromine to keep the workers awake for three straight days so they can comply with the quota set by the subcontractor. "This factory must be inspected and immediate actions to address the plight of these workers should be made by all the people concerned," she said in a statement.