Who would support a sweat-free policy in Oregon?
Working people: Sweatshops represent a general decline in wages and working conditions. Since 1994 Oregonians have lost 68,000 jobs due to trade related activities.(2) Many sweatshops have appeared overseas due to cheap labor costs and lax environmental standards. Local business owners: Sweatshop exploitation undermines local economies and the competitive ability of companies with fair labor practices. Women: 85% of sweatshop workers are young women between the ages of 15-25.(3) Human rights activists: Everyone deserves dignity, respect and to work free of exploitation. Civil rights activists: People of color and women are the majority workforce in sweatshops. Sweatshops deny workers basic human rights.
