Rape case draws attention to concerns about abuses in Jordan’s garment industry

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Rape case draws attention to concerns about abuses in Jordan’s garment industry
By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, September 7, 6:02 AM

IRBID, Jordan — After a garment factory worker told Jordanian police she had been raped three times by her boss, the case escalated into an international campaign that threatens to close down Jordan’s largest garment exporter to the U.S.

It could also force government and business to do more to improve conditions in an industry that has been crucial to this kingdom’s economy — and to its relations with the United States.

The 27-year-old Bangladeshi seamstress who had worked four months at the Classic Fashion plant brought her allegations to Jordanian police in June. She claimed that her Sri Lankan manager, Anil Santha, raped her twice in March and once on May 16 in a scruffy hotel room in downtown Irbid, a city near the Syrian border.

~snip~
Classic, with annual exports of $125 million, is Jordan’s largest garment exporter to the U.S., producing a Hanes line sold at Target and other clothing for giant U.S. retailers including Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Kohl’s and Lands’ End.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/rape-case-draws-attention-to-concerns-about-abuses-in-jordans-garment-industry/2011/09/07/gIQABDMX8J_story.html

[InkAddict]

1. Physical or metaphorical rape - the lesser and/or the greater exploitation?

But the cost of the products she made are low - so what to do? Boycott the Hanes label, the Target label, until what - the rich/entitled 1% make the corporate rapacious exploitation of American manufacturing/IT/service workers, most of whom would agree this physical behavior to be sociopathic, in line with the Third World's authoritarian/entitled taskmasters of global commerce? Pathetic.

I am sorry that happened to the seamstress, and I hope for justice for her though culturally/economically it's not likely.
There's that nasty word HOPE again.

[InkAddict]

2. Physical or metaphorical rape - the lesser and/or the greater exploitation?

But the cost of the products she made are low - so what to do? Boycott the Hanes label, the Target label, until what - the rich/entitled 1% make the corporate rapacious exploitation of American manufacturing/IT/service workers, most of whom would agree this physical behavior to be sociopathic, in line with the Third World's authoritarian/entitled taskmasters of global commerce? Pathetic.

I am sorry that happened to the seamstress, and I hope for justice for her though culturally/economically it's not likely.
There's that nasty word HOPE again.

[alp227]

3. that's why we need protectionist policies now! REPEAL NAFTA! n/t