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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-219-8211
The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it found nine
children, the youngest only 9 years old, illegally employed in a garment
sweatshop in Sherman, Texas.
"Child labor violations rank among the most serious found in a garment
shop," said Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman. "It's bad enough that
sweatshops are unsafe for adults and must be eliminated. It is unconscionable
for children to be exploited in sweatshops."
Grayson Sewing, owned by Jimmie Shaw, was found by the department's
Wage and Hour Division to have employed nine children during the summer of 1997
in violation of the federal child labor law. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA), it is illegal to employ any minor younger than 14 years of age outside
of agriculture and to employ any minor under the age of 16 in manufacturing. It
is also unlawful to employ 14- or 15-year-old minors later than 9:00 p.m. when
school is out for the summer (or 7:00 p.m. at other times).
The department's recent investigation found that minors, ranging in age
from 9 to 15, were employed to sweep the shop and fold, bag and tag garments.
Seven of the nine children were under the legal age of 14. Two 15-year-olds
worked until 10:00 pm, and there were occasions when some of the minors worked
as late as midnight. The sewing shop has been assessed child labor civil money
penalties of $32,750.
The department's investigation of Grayson Sewing the third since 1993
also found the shop in violation of the minimum wage and overtime requirements
of the FLSA. Back wages of $12,566 are due 22 workers, including minors who
worked there. An additional amount of $9,625 has been computed in civil money
penalties for repeat and willful violations of the FLSA.
The department is seeking an injunction against the company to prevent
minimum wage, overtime, child labor and recordkeeping violations in the future.
Grayson Sewing was producing ladies clothing for four Dallas-based
manufacturers. Of the four, SGS Studios, Alexander Campbell and Bonnie Boynton,
have agreed to pay the back wages that accrued while work was done on their
goods. The fourth manufacturer, Sunny South, refused to pay any back wages. In
addition, SGS Studios agreed to sign a consent agreement, which will be entered
in U.S. District Court, requiring the monitoring of its contractor shops in the
future.
"The department is pleased that SGS Studios has followed the lead of
other Dallas manufacturers that monitor their contractor shops," said Herman.
"The department expects manufacturers to be accountable for ensuring that goods
are not produced in sweatshops, and recent compliance surveys show that
monitoring improves the level of compliance."
In July 1997, eight Dallas manufacturers formed the Dallas Apparel
Manufacturers Association and signed an agreement to comply with the minimum
wage, overtime, child labor and recordkeeping provisions of the FLSA. These
manufacturers contract with approximately 45 percent of the area contractors.
The Wage and Hour Division in Texas actively participates in the
department's "No Sweat" initiative a multi-prong strategy to eradicate
sweatshops in the U.S. garment industry. Last year, the division conducted 59
investigations in Texas and recovered nearly $83,000 in back wages for 195
garment workers.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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