Workers Rights Consortium

http://www.workersrights.org/

If you've never heard of this organization, and especially if you are currently attending a college or university, now is as good a time as ever to get familiar with this group. This is a non-profit, independent organization that monitors labor practices in foreign countries for clothing companies. Especially those who produce collegiate apparel. I am proud to say that I (as of 2009) attend a college that is a member of the WRC. Their code of conduct includes bans on forced overtime, child labor, and discrimination; while upholding living wages, safe working conditions, and collective bargaining. They have done investigations into some major companies including Wal-Mart, Levi, and Nike. They do not warn the factories ahead of time of their arrival and they publicly report their findings. Right now their main bread & butter is in collegiate apparel, but I read somewhere that they are trying to move into the mainstream clothing market and the related companies. Here's hoping.