Standards & rights at work:
Forced labour - sweatshops and debt bondage

Clandestine immigrant workers employed in so called sweatshops make up the majority of cases of forced labour in the TCF industries. Despite many campaigns against them, sweatshop practices have not disappeared.

Some workers, mostly children, are forced to work in order to repay loans made to them or their families at the time of hiring. Debt bondage is a practice which many countries are endeavouring to eradicate, but it persists in certain segments of TCF industries, notably production of carpets. In a few cases, prison work may involve forced labour practices, although most TCF manufacturers take care to avoid this practice which can harm their image among consumer.