According to one of the pamphlets distributed by Global Exchange, in Honduras, women make Gap clothes for 14-hour days for only 50 cents an hour. They can only use the bathroom twice and will be fired if they protest. Because workers do need these jobs, Benjamin does not advocate closing down the sweatshops, only reforming them. Some workers in El Salvador had to work 22 hours at a time during the busy season, Benjamin said. Many workers are beaten if they make mistakes or do not work fast enough.
Benjamin travels extensively to investigate sweatshops and talk to the workers.
She often brings workers who have been fired for standing up for their rights to the United States to talk with companies and educate consumers. Gross is working to confirm his suspicions that DePauw's gear comes directly from sweatshops. So far, he has learned that known sweatshop offenders such as Champions and Gear for Sports make some of DePauw's apparel. The clothing comes from places like Pakistan where the average hourly wage is 21 cents, according to the flyers that DSAS passed out at the Old Gold game last weekend. Hiatt attended Benjamin's talk Monday and has been working with Gross and DSAS to provide them with information.