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“Made in Cambodia”
We have all been there – whether you are trend hunting or just shopping for basics, everyone has been to H&M. With prices around $15 for a shirt why wouldn’t we shop there? They have a huge inventory of clothing and none of the prices break the bank. What is there to lose? The uncomfortable truth of the matter is that there is a lot lost. While we enjoy the luxury of cheap shopping, we are simultaneously ignoring the voices of over 500,000 factory hands who work 10 hours shift, daily, for less than $100 a month; “The truth is, that we are rich because they’re poor.” H&M is not the only well-known company at fault here either. Popular American brands including, The Gap, Adidas and Urban Outfitters are all guilty of contributing to this unethical practice. It is far too easy to disconnect from these workers since these factories are not prevalent in American, but it is in no way right. Cambodia is among a few nations around the world that are massive clothing suppliers. While this is very lucrative, the people who contribute the labor are the ones who reap the least of the benefits. The majority of factories are comprised of female laborers who are willing to work for about 50 cents an hour because they have no other choice. This parallels the fact that in 2012 the United States and Europe received more than $4 billion worth of merchandise from Cambodia.
Not only are the factory wages unlivable, but also the conditions are equally repugnant. The factories are loud and busy and hot, and they have even been described as “criminally abusive.” Fainting has become an epidemic among workers. Along side all of this is the discouraging fact that when workers attempted to organize a strike, dozens were shot dead by government officials. Not only is this lifestyle abusive but it can also feel hopeless. No human deserves this treatment, especially when there is hardly any compensation. So next time you’re shopping on the cheap, ask yourself: is the price really worth it?
Article by Hannah Ross Illustration by Taylor Himelstein