| Test
Your Knowledge of Sweatshops
Try
taking the following tests to measure your knowledge of sweatshops.
True
or False Test
T F
1. Sweatshops are places where the fundamental rights of workers
are systematically violated.
T
F
2. Sweatshops are found only in the manufacturing of clothing
and other apparel.
T
F
3. Sweatshops are only found in places like Asia, Africa and
Latin America.
T
F
4. Most people working in sweatshops are adults who are uneducated
and poor.
T
F
5. In the United States, people working in sweatshops are
often immigrants and people of color.
T F
6. About 800,000 children, under the age of 16 years, work
as seasonal and migrant farm workers in the United States.
T
F
7. Child labor is full-time work done by children under the
age of 15 years.
T
F
8. Most child laborers work eight hours a day.
T F
9. In Africa, one in three children works.
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Multiple
Choice Test
Select the answer you think is correct.
1.
A sweatshop is a place where:
(a) there are no fans or air-conditioners (b) Fair Labor Laws
are not observed (c) only children are working
2.
Most people working in sweatshops in the United States, Latin
America, Asia and Africa are:
(a) children 12-16 years of age (b) 16-20 years of age (c)
adults over 20 years
3.
Sweatshops can be found in the following industries:
(a) manufacture of clothing and other apparel (b) food production
plants, farm fields, and mines (c) both a and c
4. It is estimated that the number of children working
in the world is:
(a) 25 – 50 million (b) 50 – 100 million (c) 100
– 200 million
5.
More than one-third of the world’s child laborers are
in:
(a) Asia (b) Africa (c) Latin America
6.
In most instances where there is child labor children are
working between:
(a) 5-8 hours a day (b) 8-12 hours a day (c) 11-15 hours a
day
7.
Asia has the highest percentage of children working in industries
that export to:
(a) Canada (b) Europe (c) United States
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The
Answers:
True
and False – Answers
1. True. Workers’ rights are protected by United
States and international laws, however, they are systematically
violated in the U.S. and around the world.
2.
False. Most people think of sweatshops in the manufacture
of clothing and other apparel items. However, in its broadest
description, sweatshops include food production plants, farm
fields, mines, and any workplace that violates workers’
rights.
3.
False. Sweatshops can be found in the United States and other
countries throughout the world.
4.
True. Most people working in sweatshops are adults in the
United States, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
5.
True. People working in sweatshops in the U.S. are often immigrants
and people of color. They are also often poor and uneducated.
6.
True - Whole families of migrant workers are employed to work
in the fields weeding and picking vegetables and fruits. About
800,000 children, under the age of 16 years, work as seasonal
and migrant farm workers. U.S. child labor laws divide youth
employment into two categories: agriculture and non-agriculture.
Because of this, children working in agriculture are less
protected from exploitation, and more exposed to harmful employment.
7.
True. Child labor is full-time work done by children under
the age of 15 years that keeps them from being able to attend
school. It is work that exploits children, and is dangerous
and harmful to their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual
and moral well being.
8.
False. Most child laborers work 11 to 15 hours and more a
day.
9.
True. Most children in Africa work selling food, washing cars,
serving as domestic helpers. They tan and dye leather products,
fetch water, collect firewood, herd animals and harvest crops
on family farm or commercial plantations. Some child workers
sew garments, weave carpets, process sisal or work in gold
and diamond mines, all for export.
Most of the above information is from By the Sweat &
Toil of Children, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International
Labor Affairs, 1994 and 1995.
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Multiple
Choice – Answers
1. [b] Fair Labor Laws are not observed - Sweatshops
are places where the
fundamental rights or workers are systematically violated.
These rights include:
- receiving a fair wage and benefits.
- working under conditions that are safe, healthy and just,
that do not jeopardize the physical, psychological and intellectual
development of people.
- freedom from excessive working hours, forced labor, physical,
sexual and emotional abuse.
- freedom to organize associations (unions) and negotiate
collective bargaining agreements.
2.
[c] adults over 20 years of age - Most people working in sweatshops
are adults. In most countries they are uneducated and poor.
In the U.S. they are often immigrants and people of color.
A small percentage of those working in sweatshops are children
16 years of age and under.
3.
[c[ both a and b.
4.
[c] 100-200 million - According to the U.S. Department of
Labor 1994 study on child labor, there are 100-200 million
children working throughout the world. More than 90% of them
live in developing countries (Asia, Africa and Latin America).
See “Child Labor” section for more information.
5.
[b] Africa - About one in three children in Africa are child
workers. They sell and trade food on the streets, wash cars,
serve as domestic helpers, herd animals, collect firewood,
fetch water and harvest crops on family farms or commercial
plantations. Some children sew garments, work in gold and
diamond mines, and weave carpets all for export. More than
50% of the world’s child laborers are in Asia, and about
15-20% live in Latin America.
6.
[c] 11-15 hours a day - Most child laborers work 11-15 hours
a day. Their physical and mental growth is often stunted by
malnutrition and working conditions that threaten their safety
and endanger their health. This is especially so for children
working in the agriculture industry where they are exposed
to poisonous and disease-carrying insects and reptiles, and
to chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
7.
[c] United States - Asia accounts for 50% of the world’s
child laborers. Children in Asia work in factories and workshops.
They clean and pack food, weave carpets, sew and embroider
garments, glue shoes, carry molten glass, cure leather and
polish gems. They are often invisible because they work in
homes, small village workshops, or in tiny sheds.
The above information is from By the Sweat & Toil of
Children, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International
Labor Affairs, 1994 and 1995.
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