In March 2013 more than 1,100 garment workers were killed in Bangladesh when the building they were working in collapsed. They garments they were sewing are sold by the worlds major retail outlets like the Gap, Walmart and Benetton. Given the number of people killed you'd think these clothing retailers would work to change the conditions which these women work. Instead they stonewalled efforts to protect these workers. You'd be wrong as these women continue to be exploited by these corporations.
Apple the corporation beloved by liberals has been implicated in worker exploitation in the factories which under license to a Taiwanese corporation has seen worker riots and suicides due to working conditions.
Consumerism marches on as they turn a blind eye to the abuses. What's more important, the appearance of a social conscience or cheap consumer products? Cheap consumer products always wins.
Wishing not to be left behind in the exploitation circus and the race for higher profits the worlds major manufacturers of cosmetics have no problem with using child labor in Indian mines.
Koderma, India - Children toiling illegally in Indian mines are producing a key ingredient used in the products of some of the global cosmetics industry's most prominent names.
A report by campaign group DanWatch said child labour is being used in the eastern states of Jharkhand and Bihar to extract mica, which is then added to the make-up produced by at least 12 multinational companies.
At least 5,000 children may be producing mica - used to add glitter to natural cosmetics - which is bought by intermediaries and then exported to high-profile international customers such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder.
Deadly work
The abandoned mica mines start shimmering under the rising sun in Koderma, Jharkhand, as a group of sleepy children trudges towards the Charki mine holding their tools.
Five-year-old Ajay Das hurriedly slips into a narrow hole and starts his day. His tiny hands can barely balance the hammer, but he still hits the glistening wall accurately.
Ajay works six days a week and after labouring for seven to eight hours each day in hazardous conditions,he manages to earn a paltry 20 rupees ($0.33) - barely enough to kill his hunger pangs.
It's all for the greater good. Of corporate profits and lower prices.
Apple the corporation beloved by liberals has been implicated in worker exploitation in the factories which under license to a Taiwanese corporation has seen worker riots and suicides due to working conditions.
Consumerism marches on as they turn a blind eye to the abuses. What's more important, the appearance of a social conscience or cheap consumer products? Cheap consumer products always wins.
Wishing not to be left behind in the exploitation circus and the race for higher profits the worlds major manufacturers of cosmetics have no problem with using child labor in Indian mines.
Ugly truth behind global beauty industry
Top cosmetic brands rely on Indian children working in illegal mines to extract mica, key ingredient in makeup products.Koderma, India - Children toiling illegally in Indian mines are producing a key ingredient used in the products of some of the global cosmetics industry's most prominent names.
A report by campaign group DanWatch said child labour is being used in the eastern states of Jharkhand and Bihar to extract mica, which is then added to the make-up produced by at least 12 multinational companies.
At least 5,000 children may be producing mica - used to add glitter to natural cosmetics - which is bought by intermediaries and then exported to high-profile international customers such as L'Oreal and Estee Lauder.
Deadly work
The abandoned mica mines start shimmering under the rising sun in Koderma, Jharkhand, as a group of sleepy children trudges towards the Charki mine holding their tools.
Five-year-old Ajay Das hurriedly slips into a narrow hole and starts his day. His tiny hands can barely balance the hammer, but he still hits the glistening wall accurately.
Ajay works six days a week and after labouring for seven to eight hours each day in hazardous conditions,he manages to earn a paltry 20 rupees ($0.33) - barely enough to kill his hunger pangs.
It's all for the greater good. Of corporate profits and lower prices.
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