Workers' wages seem low, but isn't that because the cost of living is so much cheaper in garment-producing countries?

published 17-01-2013 13:50, last modified 23-06-2015 08:46
The cost of living in garment-producing countries is indeed cheaper than in the global north, but garment workers are still not paid a wage that covers their basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and education.
Workers' wages seem low, but isn't that because the cost of living is so much cheaper in garment-producing countries?

The Clean Clothes Campaign advocates a living wage – a wage that enables workers to provide for their families basic needs and allows them to participate fully in society and live with dignity.

A living wage should cover the cost of nutritious food and clean water, shelter, clothes, education, health care and transport, as well as allowing for a discretionary income (or, in less complex words, a bit of  money that garment workers can spend how they wish, and not just barely cover the essentials to stay alive) . It should take into account the cost of living, social security benefits and the relative standards of other groups.

The Asia Floor Wage Campaign has calculated a living wage for garment workers across Asia: asia.floorwage.org using Purchasing Power Parity, a hypothetical currency published by the World Bank.