To the editor:
There probably wasn’t much attention paid to the article in the paper about the fire at the [Nandan, India] denim factory.
But wait, some big companies in the good old USA use this factory.
Let me tell you why. Those using this factory, according to the article, are Target, Ann Taylor, Mango, Wrangler and its sister company, which provides supplies to Walmart and H&M.
Talk about fire safety: they have none. This factory had only one door that could only be reached by climbing up a single ladder to the one exit door. They work 14-hour shifts and are paid 35 cents per hour. Each person is required to stitch more than 400 pieces of garments a day.
The factory has agreed to pay a whopping $14,000 to the families of the deceased.
We should all be aware of the stores that use this type of labor — 35 cents per hour, and we complain about some of the salaries we are paid in this country. Is it worth the small amount we might save to use these type of suppliers?
We really don’t know how well off we are in the great county we call America.
Jere Scott
Jacksonville
