An interesting perspective from the owner of Yellow Label in response to an article published in Business Week:

FEEDBACK

Steamed Over Sweatshops
Our probe of Chinese working conditions unleashes fury—and ideas for reform

Many major American retail chains and brand-name manufacturers have answered criticism that they exploit "sweatshop" labor by adopting codes of conduct and on-site monitoring of their Chinese suppliers. But a BusinessWeek investigation found that in China, many factories have just improved their skill at concealing abuses. Our Nov. 27 Cover Story, "Secrets, Lies, and Sweatshops," revealed that numerous Chinese factories keep fake books to fool outside inspectors and distribute scripts for employees to recite if they are questioned. Local consultants have surfaced to assist suppliers in evading auditors and undermining codes of conduct.

The article provoked an avalanche of reader responses from the U.S. and Asia and stirred discussion on blog sites. Some readers sharply criticized China and U.S. importers. Others argued that Chinese laborers are happy to have jobs fueled by Western demand, even if the hours are long, the pay insufficient, and the conditions unpleasant.

Of the businesspeople and officials with nongovernmental organizations who wrote, most agreed that auditing has failed to detect abuses. Some blame U.S. companies for imposing tough demands on factories, both to cut costs and comply with Western overtime pay standards. Other readers proposed ways to improve conditions. Here are edited excerpts:

Your insightful article on sweatshop labor in China exposed a major ethical dilemma that both consumers and businesses in the U.S. would prefer to ignore. Exceedingly low prices on consumer goods cost us dearly in terms of their impact on our fellow human beings. Yellow Label Kids is one of a growing number of U.S. companies that has committed to purchasing products exclusively through Fair Trade certified suppliers. Significant change will only come about in the marketplace when consumers demand it on a large scale. — Hillary Sciarillo, Yellow Label Kids, San Rafael, Calif.