III. ... and in the Philippines [Illustrative Cases of Sweatshops Conditions] ...

Fiercely anti-union: In Bataan, workers producing for Gap were dismissed when the company found out they were organizing a union. When the stubborn union won recognition after a strike, the company closed without notice. Another Gap producer put up a management-run cooperative to escape organizing.

Low wages: Women workers producing for Nike still receive below the statutory minimum, even after four or eight years of sewing. Despite the company’s code of conduct.

Maternity, discrimination, sexual harassment: In Cavite, a company producing for Panasonic routinely does not re-admit women workers who have given birth; it also does not advance or reimburse maternity benefits. `The expatriate manager of a Taiwaneses company producing Coleman products, is a certified union-buster, also accused of sexual harassment of two workers.

Forced overtime, unpaid overtime or underpayment of overtime: Supervisors hold on to workers’ time cards and punch starting time two-four hours later than actual work start. The stay-in workers (migrant workers from central Philippines who stay inside the company compound), producing for Esprit and Osh Kosh, are reluctant to complain, afraid to lose job and home.

Overcontracting, homeworkers, child labor: A company producing stuffed toys for export to the U.S. does not have its own workers; it contracts out all of its requirements, a significant amount to homeworkers, in violation of the MOA on RAPP its mother organization signed. Another company producing for Gap, Kmart and Wal-Mart has 20 minors in its employ.

Locked exits: Garments companies routinely lock fire exits allegedly to prevent pilferage, risking mass deaths or injury in case of fire or stampede.