Thalia Sodi 6/2006
Maintrend International: What does Latin pop star Thalia Sodi have in common with outdoor giant and purveyor of conservative values, the L.L. Bean Company? Human trafficking & involuntary servitude.
Statement by SweatFree Communities:
That a recent National Labor Committee investigation revealed that the Thalia Sodi label is sewn in inhumane conditions in Jordan by workers from Bangladesh and China held in involuntary servitude should come as no surprise.
A decade of similar investigations by human rights organizations, labor unions, and companies themselves has exposed the human tragedy of the global apparel economy: sweatshop abuse is the norm, not the exception.
That Thalia Sodi factory auditors apparently failed to uncover worker abuse also should come as no surprise, as factories have become increasingly adept at portraying an image of decency for corporate monitors who are all too willing to play along.
But that Thalia Sodi herself seems to think that there is nothing she can do about human rights abuses in factories that produce her own label is a bit surprising. Surely, if Thalia Sodi spoke about workers' right to dignity and respect in the workplace, or sang about it, tens of thousands of fans would listen, media would broadcast her message, and politicians and companies would take note.
Thalia Sodi should welcome the National Labor Committee revelations and seize this opportunity to take meaningful action that will lead to real improvements in workers' lives. A good start would be making public a list of factories that produce her label, committing to truly independent investigations of all the factories, and supporting workers' efforts to organize for better conditions in any of the factories. We would be happy to assist Thalia Sodi in developing a program that will humanize working conditions in factories producing her label.
