Poverty pay and the exploitation of workers are systemically embedded in the global garment industry.
Low wages trap workers and their families in a cycle of poverty. Workers are forced to work long hours in order to earn enough to live, and they cannot risk refusing work due to unsafe working conditions, and they cannot take time off when they are ill. Poverty pay removes choices. The minimum wage in many garment production countries is set at poverty levels to entice businesses.
Garment workers who work six or even seven days per week often do not make enough to make ends meet, let alone put anything extra away in savings. They may have to rely on loans to pay their rent or cover healthcare or education costs. Poverty wages often leads to problems such as poor housing conditions, child labour, poor nutrition, and violence against women.
