Henry Ford understood that unless he paid a decent wage here in the U.S., people couldn't buy his products. The same is true in the global economy. Indeed, by denying people the skills, education and wages they need to survive, sweatshops and child labor stand in the way of economic development. The fact that most countries outlaw exploited labor and mandate childhood education is evidence that governments don't condone sweatshops or child labor as pathways to economic development. Unfortunately, too many corporations seek locations where they can pay lower wages and pressure governments to act against the best interests of their citizens.
Surveys show that consumers do care about worker exploitation.
When consumers demand change, companies respond. Ask the soccer moms and their kids. So these soccer families put pressure on the soccer-ball industry and have won some major league concessions. Though the companies still need to make many more improvements, they are proving that they can provide products at reasonable prices with fair wages and decent working conditions. Green businesses and fair trade organizations carry the proof even further.