Since the 1970s, Nike, Inc. has been accused of using sweatshops to produce footwear and apparel. Nike has strongly denied the claims in the past, suggesting the company has little control over sub-contracted factories. Beginning in 2002, Nike began auditing its factories for occupational health and safety.

New research finds sweatshops may be a necessary evil in the development of economies. But, the researchers concluded, countries were still better off than not having those jobs at all. By encouraging mass hiring in the economy, even low-wage factories could lift everyone’s wages….

What You Can Do About Sweatshops

1. Demand sweatshop-free products where you shop.
2. Buy union-made, local, and secondhand.
3. Buy Fair Trade.
4. Ask questions.
5. Mobilize in at your workplace, school, or in your community.
6. Use shareholder clout.
7. Educate Others.

In 2019, the Democratic Republic of the Congo made no advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government drafted a new anti-trafficking in persons law, established a national anti-trafficking coordinating body, and finalized a five-year national strategy to combat human trafficking.

All were reportedly using child soldiers. Over 35% of these children were recruited voluntarily, many motivated by a sense of patriotism or poverty. Parents and the community at large are also often involved in this voluntary recruitment of children.

Apple was criticised last year after a report by a campaign group claimed working conditions at an iPhone factory in China were illegal. According to the report, Foxconn workers were not receiving bonuses and having to do overtime and too many temporary workers were being hired….

In China, a developing country that is known to be a hub for sweatshops due to relaxed labor laws, high population and low minimum wage, the minimum wage is set to be raised by approximately 7% in 10 provinces by the end of 2018.

But despite the long hours of hard work, many Apple employees seem to think the pros outweigh the cons. Based on hundreds of reviews on Glassdoor and a few Quora posts written by former employees, it sounds like Apple treats its employees extremely well….

The Genius Training Student Workbook is Apple’s employee training manual for Apple Store tech-support employees, called Geniuses.

But Apple has been singled out as a uniquely visible contributor to the problem. It houses 12,000 corporate employees at its 175-acre “Spaceship” campus in Cupertino, which opened in 2017 with no connections to public transit lines or additional employee housing….