Thai and Latino immigrant workers found working in slave-like conditions in textile sweatshops in Southern California two years ago have been awarded a settlement of more than $2 million from four companies – B.U.M. International, L.F. Sportswear, Mervyn’s and Montgomery Ward – and an undisclosed amount from Hub Distributors/Miller’s Outpost.
The workers were discovered in August 1995 in government raids. The workers reportedly were forced to work for up to twenty hours per day for less than $1 per hour. They were barred from leaving their barbed wire compounds.
The companies paying the settlement under the agreement deny any knowledge of the workers’ pay or conditions and they deny knowledge of the sweatshops or the proprietors.
Julie Su, the lawyer for the immigrants said “This is a victory not only for these workers but for all workers who suffer in sweatshops. And it sends the garment industry a message.”
Su reported that the Thai workers had all been freed by the INS and were working in decent factory jobs. While she had no definitive information, Su also believes the affected Latino workers are also still in the country.
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