Behind the Labels: Garment Workers on U.S. Saipan

Lured by false promises and driven by desperation, thousands of Chinese and Filipina women pay high fees for jobs in garment factories on the Pacific island of Saipan which despite being a U.S. territory is exempt from federal minimum wage and certain immigration laws. The clothing they sew, bearing...

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Bibliographic Details
Institution:Open Society Archives at Central European University
Language:English
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10891/osa:95a0c672-1fff-45a3-8acd-633998abcdc1
Description
Summary:Lured by false promises and driven by desperation, thousands of Chinese and Filipina women pay high fees for jobs in garment factories on the Pacific island of Saipan which despite being a U.S. territory is exempt from federal minimum wage and certain immigration laws. The clothing they sew, bearing the "Made in the USA" label, is shipped duty- and quota-free to the U.S. for sale by The Gap, J. Crew, Polo, and other retailers. Powerful hidden-camera footage, along with the garment workers' personal stories, offers a rare and unforgettable glimpse into indentured labor and the workings of the global sweatshop where fourteen-hour shifts, payless paydays, and lock-downs are routine. Behind the Labels follows the issues from the factory floor to the streets, where protesters worldwide wage an ongoing battle against corporate globalization. BEHIND THE LABELS was produced and directed for WITNESS and Oxygen by two-time Emmy Award nominated producer Tia Lessin. Tia Lessin