Sweatshop labour

Extraterritorial sweatshop factories
Maquiladoras
Sweatshops
Maquila ships
Sweatshop factory ships
Maquilas

Nature

The word "maquila" comes from the Spanish verb "maquilar" which means to assemble. "Maquila ships" are extraterritorial factories, where workers live and work without breaks in the day for long periods. These types of activities are bordering on "new forms of slavery" and constitute flagrant violations of workers, rights and individual human rights.

Background

Sweatshop labour emerged as a global concern during the Industrial Revolution, when exploitative factory conditions drew public outcry in Europe and North America. The issue gained renewed international attention in the late 20th century, as media exposés and advocacy campaigns revealed widespread abuses in developing countries supplying global brands. Growing consumer awareness and transnational activism have since intensified scrutiny of supply chains, prompting debates on corporate responsibility and the persistent challenges of eradicating exploitative labour practices worldwide.

Incidence

Sweatshop labour remains a pervasive global issue, affecting millions of workers, particularly in the garment, electronics, and footwear industries. Countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are most impacted, with workers—often women and children—enduring long hours, hazardous conditions, and wages far below living standards. Despite international attention and some regulatory efforts, the demand for cheap consumer goods continues to drive the proliferation of sweatshops, making the problem persistent and widespread.
In 2022, an investigation by The Guardian revealed that workers in factories supplying major UK fashion brands in Leicester, England, were paid as little as £3.50 per hour, far below the legal minimum wage, and faced unsafe working environments.