Bulgaria Is “The Sewing Sweatshop of Europe” - report

New report released by Clean Clothes Campaign shows that garment workers in Eastern Europe and Turkey are paid poverty wages.

In a new report released on Wednesday by the Clean Clothes Campaign garment workers from 10 countries across Eastern Europe, Bulgaria included, have shared their stories to raise awareness of the poverty wages and shocking working conditions they endure to produce clothes for some of the biggest brands across Europe - including Hugo Boss, Zara and H&M. 

The report shows that poverty pay is endemic across the garment industry and that the idea of "Made in Europe" or more expensive clothing being made in better conditions is just a myth. 

In the report Bulgaria is called “sewing sweatshop for Europe”. According to it, the garment industry is a major employer and exporter in Bulgaria. 

The  biggest export markets for garments “Made in Bulgaria” are Germany and Italy with about 25% each, followed by Greece.

The clothing brands, for which the interviewed factory workers sew garments are Zara, Levi’s, H&M, S.Oliver, oTTo,  Max Mara, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Peter Luft, mS mode, Tom Tailor, Lee, Benetton, Massimo Dutti, to name a few.

About 100 000 people work in the garment industry in registered employment. In addition to this, an estimated 50 000 workers work under semi-formal or informal conditions with no labour contracts or with contracts that do not reflect the real employment in terms of working hours and wages, without social insurance protection and without any employment security. These workers may work in factories or at home. In many areas of the country, garment manufacturing is the only job opportunity. 

Women make up 86% of the workforce. The industry...