American garment workers are paid as little as 1.58 dollars per hour, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Labor. A survey of Sout

American garment workers paid as little as 1.58 dollars per hour

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2023-04-01 23:00:05

American garment workers are paid as little as 1.58 dollars per hour, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

A survey of Southern California garment-sewing contractors and manufacturers has found workers making garments sold by many of the nation’s leading fashion retailers often continue to be victims of wage theft and employers’ illegal pay practices.

Los Angeles, the center of the country's garment manufacturing industry, employs over 45,000 workers, with many working in sweatshop conditions regularly facing wage theft, abuse, and working an average of 55 hours a week with no overtime pay, according to Fashion Revolution.

Based on data from more than 50 contractors and manufacturers, the 2022 Southern California Garment Survey released by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 80 percent of its investigations. More than 50 percent of the time, the division found employers illegally paying workers part or all their wages off the books, with payroll records either deliberately forged or not provided.

The fiscal year 2022 survey also found 32 percent of contractors paying garment workers piece-rate wages, a practice prohibited by the State of California since last year. Contractors and manufacturers included in the survey produce garments for sale by national retailers that include Bombshell Sportswear, Dillard’s, Lulus, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Socialite, Stitch Fix and Von Maur.

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