The Human Cost of Fast Fashion: How Does it Impact workers?

photo via Channel 4

The impact of fast fashion on garment workers is profound. These workers often face low wages, unsafe working conditions, and long hours to meet demanding production schedules. Additionally, the pressure to produce cheap garments quickly contributes to exploitative labor practices, including child labor and forced labor in some cases. Moreover, the disposable nature of fast fashion leads to job insecurity for workers as production can be easily moved to countries with lower labor costs.

Around 75 million factory workers globally are employed by the fast fashion industry, yet less than 2% of them receive a living wage. Consequently, many workers live below the poverty line, prompting comparisons to "slave labor" by the European Parliament when describing the conditions faced by factory workers in Asia.

Additionally, garment factories frequently overlook health and safety regulations, leading to accidents and injuries. Workers are exposed to harmful substances like dyes and chemicals without adequate protection, endangering their long-term health. Moreover, many factories have cramped and unsafe working conditions, further jeopardizing the well-being of garment laborers.

A detailed inquiry by Wired initially outlined the challenges faced by both laborers and consumers due to the manufacturing of its garments, while a documentary from the U.K.’s Channel 4 revealed that Shein employees endured 75-hour work shifts with minimal time off.

The documentary "Inside The Shein Machine" by Channel 4 utilized undercover cameras to capture footage of factory workers compelled to work exhausting 17-hour shifts to produce hundreds of garments daily. At one factory, they earned a base salary of $20 per day, subject to deductions of $14 for any errors in garments.

Fast fashion brands don't just harm the climate the business violates human rights in so many ways. From this we realize sustainable fashion isn't just about the planet it's also about those who inhabit it, it's also about a workers' rights.

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