Latest news with #childlabour
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Teen former member of US-based K-pop group VCHA sues label alleging abuse and exploitation
Something about K-pop always captivated Kiera Grace Madder. The 17-year-old singer has been a fan of its synchronised choreography, fashion-forward outfits and distinctive sound for as long as she can remember. So in 2022, when she learned that JYP Entertainment, one of the biggest K-pop talent agencies, had plans to make a group with North American-based talent, she jumped at the opportunity. She auditioned for a reality show and earned her place in an all-girl group called VCHA, with five other teens. But last summer, less than a year after officially debuting, the group pulled out of a performance and went quiet on social media. In a lawsuit filed last December against JYP USA in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Madder, who goes by the stage name KG Crown, revealed she had left VCHA and alleged child labour law violations, abuse and exploitation. Play 'I knew the K-pop system was very hard-working – probably one of the most hard-working systems in the music industry,' Madder said. 'I'm a hard worker, so I was willing to put in any hard work, but I did not know about what can go on behind closed doors.' JYP USA issued a statement on social media when the lawsuit was filed, claiming Madder had made 'unilateral public statements containing false and exaggerated claims'.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Child sex ring horror in South Africa's illegal mines: Witnesses describe how youths are sent underground and passed around by miners to be raped
Underage workers are being abused in illegal South African gold mines, an investigation has found. Minors are being recruited for both cheap labour and to exploit them for sex, according to the BBC. Most of the children in the mine are foreign and do not understand what they are getting into, according to a whistleblower. Jonathan, now in his late 20s, had migrated to South Africa from a nearby country on the promise of making easy money working in one of its dozens of disused mines. These mines have previously been closed by multinational firms due to a lack of commercial viability, but are still utilised by illegal workers and controlled by criminal gangs. During his six months labouring underground, he said workers faced long hours with limited food and sleeping options in hot conditions at a mine near Stilfontein, which was put under siege by police last year. Up to 100 miners are believed to have died in the blockade. However, Jonathan, who's identity is being protected for fear of retribution from the criminal gangs who operate the mines, also spoke of the horrific treatment of underage miners. Sex was used by adult workers both as a punishment for the child workers and as 'payment' for any gold they found. These mines have previously been closed by multinational firms due to a lack of commercial viability, but are still utilised by illegal workers 'I used to see these kids in the mine - teenagers actually, 15, 17-year-olds,' he told the BBC. 'Others used to take advantage of them sometimes. It was a little bit scary, and I wasn't comfortable with it. 'If that kid is desperate for money, he will take the risk.' Tshepo, another former worker turned whistleblower, said older men were sexually abusing underage workers while underground. He added: 'In some instances, they did it for the money. 'Some are recruited solely for that purpose, because of the financial incentives that will come with the practice of maybe trading sex underground. 'They change their behaviour patterns and have trust issues. They don't want you to get close to them, because they feel that they can no longer trust anyone.' Save the Children South Africa have said that adults working in the mine groom the children over time before the abuse. The charity's CEO Gugu Xaba said: 'They went through trauma, because some of them also saw others being sexually exploited. 'Just the feeling that they may not come out of there destroyed those children mentally. 'You find that the adult will have three or four of them that they are doing the same thing to. 'Most children are trafficked in order to be used as sex slaves. And you've got a pimp who is taking the money, and it means every day this child is used as a commercial sex worker. 'Children find themselves with no choice. So it's easier to use a child to do the work.' Mining researcher and activist Makhotla Sefuli said criminal gangs specifically target children to work in illegal mines across South Africa. Many of these children are abducted from neighbouring countries and trafficked under the false promise of formal employment in the mining industry. He said: 'Their passports are confiscated when they get to South Africa. 'It is common knowledge that these young boys are being abused.' Authorities have attempted to curb illegal mining, launching a major operation in December 2023 called Vala Umgodi - translated as 'seal the hole'. Last year a standoff between police and miners at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, near the town of Stilfontein, saw authorities cut off any food, water or medical supplies going into the mine in order to force workers to the surface. The Department of Social Development (DSD) confirmed that 31 of the rescued Stilfontein miners were found to be children. They were all Mozambicans nationals and in November, 27 of them were repatriated. The police and DSD did not respond to requests for comment when contacted by the BBC.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Inside the ‘Shein Village' where factory workers get blistered feet, earn 97p per hour and often quit within a week
RENOWNED as the King of Fast Fashion, China-based firm Shein has found itself in hot water on multiple occasions, concerning everything from human rights violations to using child labour. And now, a bombshell investigation has alleged that workers at Shein supplier factories are developing blisters from being on their feet for 30,000 worth of steps a day, and also working into the early hours of the morning to meet 'crushing inventory' demands. 5 5 5 The firm, which sells dresses for as little as £3.49, has rapidly become one of the world's biggest online retailers. It reported a staggering £1.5billion in sales last year, up 40%, and is now awaiting sign-off to list itself on the London Stock Exchange for an estimated £50 billion. But over the years, Shein has come under intense scrutiny over welfare standards, modern slavery concerns and how it monitors its Chinese factory partners. Most of those factories are in the so-called 'Shein Village' in Guangzhou, China, which YouTube documentarian Cinthia Lin took a visit to. Amid constant denials from Shein, Cinthia's investigation came in the wake of the behemoth pledging £11.3 million to improve ethical practice and the welfare of workers in its supply chain. She found job boards packed with openings for garment production, with one jobseeker claiming that the wages paid were significantly lower than those advertised. Their job adverts allegedly 'exaggerate the total earnings for sewing machine operators', with garment makers paid per-piece rather than on a salaried basis. On average, workers in Shein supplier factories are paid pennies per piece, according to Cinthia's findings. The average earnings for a garment maker are around £525.02 per month, but they can make double that at £1,050.05 if they work over 12 hours per day, at least six days a week. In some cases, overtime is even mandatory and doesn't come with premium pay, just the same per-piece pay rate. Ugly side of fashion giant Shein revealed as retailer slammed by rivals for 'unfair tactics' to keep prices low One worker that Cinthia interviewed worked mandatory hours of 8am till 10pm and only had two breaks for lunch and dinner. Videos from inside the factories - both in Cinthia's documentary and on TikTok - show workers hunched over on metal stools with no back support as they sew garments, while others walk around with their hands on their back as if in pain. 'Workers walk 20,000 to 30,000 steps daily, with blistered feet and worn out shoes,' Cinthia observed. 'Many quit within weeks. 'The 'fast' in fast fashion comes from human endurance. 'These workers are not classified as Shein employees because they work for factories that handle Shein's outsourced production. 'While filming, I felt deeply conflicted. On one hand, the workers and factory owners are grateful for the orders, as they rely on this work to support their families in a competitive urban economy. 'Many have no better alternatives but to endure situations mentioned in this video in silence.' Factory owners claim that the profit margins working for Shein are 'razor thin', with most items yielding a profit of 52p. 5 5 'Shein pushes for the lowest possible prices during negotiation to maintain its competitive edge,' Cinthia claimed. 'Because competition in the Chinese market is harsh, suppliers have little choice but to do what Shein requests to stay in business.' A documentary uploaded to All4 in October 2022 was the first of many to uncover the dark side of Shein and its suppliers. It found that some factory staff were paid just £16.50 for a 17 hour day (which works out as a measly 97p per hour) and fined three quarters of their wage for the smallest mistake. After sending an undercover reporter into two of the factories in China, Untold: Inside the Shein Machine also found workers were given just one day off a month and had pay docked if an item was returned by an unhappy customer. Shockingly, in August 2024, Shein admitted to using child labour in its supply chain in the previous year, sparking more business model concerns. London Stock Exchange Listing Last month, Shein gained approval from UK regulators for its long-awaited £50 million London listing — but it's on a knife-edge due to Trump. The firm was in a regulatory quagmire for months over concerns about forced labour use in its Chinese supply chain. The cheap online retailer, promoted by models such as Arabella Chi, has now received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority for its listing. But it may be meaningless as its bigger hurdle is the escalating trade war between China and the US. America, Shein's biggest market, has imposed 145% tariffs on China, where the firm has 5,000 factories producing the bulk of its clothes. China has hit back at US President Donald Trump's trade levies with 125 per cent tariffs and also has to approve Shein's London listing.
Jordan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Experts call for stronger child labour laws, unified national response
Experts urge tougher penalties and stronger enforcement of child labour laws in Jordan (Petra photo) AMMAN — Experts urged tougher penalties and stronger enforcement of child labour laws in Jordan, while calling for the creation of unified, regularly updated databases to better combat child labour across the Kingdom. The recommendations were put forward during a panel discussion titled 'Child Labour Legislation and Law Enforcement in Jordan,' organised by Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights. The event is part of a broader programme aimed at enhancing national efforts to protect children from labour exploitation. Tamkeen's Executive Director Linda Kalash stressed that child labour is deeply linked to poverty and unemployment, issues that have worsened in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Real progress requires a coordinated national response, not fragmented individual efforts,' Kalash said. She also highlighted the role of unwelcoming school environments in pushing children out of education and into the workforce. Haifa Darwish, representing the Ministry of Labour, said in a statement shared with The Jordan Times that 249 child labour cases were recorded in 2024, leading to numerous violations and official warnings. She emphasised the need for joint action and warned that providing benefits to child workers risks normalising the practice. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development, Emad Suhaibeh described child labour as a 'complex social and economic issue,' highlighting the ministry's support for at-risk children through specialised centres and cooperation with local community organisations. Hania Khanji of the National Council for Family Affairs noted that Jordan's overall child labour rate remains relatively low due to the continued implementation of national strategies. She stressed the importance of clearly defined institutional roles and safe working environments for youth aged 16 to 18. The session was part of Tamkeen's project 'Strengthening National Capacities for the Protection and Prevention of Child Labour,' supported by the European Regional Development and Protection Programme for Lebanon and Jordan, which is funded by several European countries.
