Sweatshop: A Human Rights Crisis In Developing Nations
- IJLLR Journal
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Paulcy Babu, School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
Priyanshi Agarwal, School of Law, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
ABSTRACT
Human rights being one of the most contentious issues in the world, the presence of sweatshops adds another layer to the misery of people. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a strong guide to ensure that growth does not come at the cost of fundamental Human rights. These abuses happen so often, with low wages, dangerous places, long hours, and denial of labour rights, that they threaten to stop SDG 8, which promotes decent work, fair pay, and healthy working conditions. The authors have used doctrinal research methodology to analyse the impact and the omnipresence of sweatshops. The paper examines power imbalances, the lack of government enforcement, and how many global supply chains are so profit-driven that they deepen structures of systemic abuse. Even steps such as ESG disclosures are often not worth the paper they are printed on. Another primary concern is the lack of legal aid to the sweatshop workers. However, change is anticipated if the onus of enforcement is on the state and enterprises, rather than on the employee.
At its core, this research disapproves of the notion that sweatshop labour practices are simply unavoidable or necessarily an improvement or necessary for human progress. Instead, this facet of labour must be defined and strategically analysed within a human rights framework. The research offers an outline for balancing the economic goals of growth with the integrity and future evolution of human dignity and rights for policy-makers, labour scholars, and other stakeholders.
Keywords: Corporate Accountability, Human Rights Violation, Legal Aid, Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8), Sweatshops
