Council OKs Anti-Sweatshop Resolution
Citing last year’s discovery that dozens of Thai immigrants had been virtually enslaved in a sweatshop in El Monte, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution condemning garment companies that force “employees to endure a work environment that violates health and safety codes.”
The council also asked the city Fire Department to report on conditions at local companies.
“I’m ashamed by the fact that this has been brought to our attention over and over and over again. . . . “I think we need to put these guys in jail where they belong,” Councilman Nate Holden said.
Several garment workers, including a survivor of the El Monte sweatshops, offered emotional stories about the inhumane conditions and paltry wages.
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