BRIEF: Well-Known American Clothing Store Accused of Using Child Labor

LONDON, UK - Well known American clothing store, Gap, was accused by a British newspaper of using child labor to create clothing items for its store.  BBC News quoted the Observer as saying it had video evidence of a ten year old boy working in a sweat shop and making clothing for Gap.  The Observer said the boy had been sold to the shop owner by his family had been working without pay for almost four months.  Another boy of similar age said he was even beaten by the factory owner because he thought the boy wasn't working hard enough.  Gap spokesman Dan Henkle told BBC News that Gap has always stood against the use of child labor and they would investigate the purported child labor factories in the United States and Europe.  Gap has also reassured customers that they will not be selling the item, a girl's smock blouse, that the boy was filmed making.

For more information, please see:

BBC News - Gap Pulls "Child Labour" Clothing - 28 October 2007

Independent - Gap Launches Inquiry into Child Labour Claims - 28 October 2007

U.S. Department of Labor - Youth Labor Laws - 28 October 2007