The World

Offers down for India’s sweatshops

The BBC’s Zubair Ahmed reports from a shantytown in the middle of Mumbai, India. It’s home to thousands of single-room factories that produce goods for export. Those factories are seeing a drop in orders in the wake of the global financial crisis.

In this hall, more than 20 men are putting finishing touches on these leather jackets. Soon the goods will go to European and American markets. This man owns the factory, where work is going on in full swing. These orders came in before the financial crisis hit the Western World. The owner says after the crisis, he hasn’t received a single order. Neither has this factory owner. Manufacturers of many goods are hurting, and one exporter says his business has dropped by more than 50%. Hundreds of workers have been laid off and many are worried that the West will never bounce back. In the meantime, the small factories are competing for turnout goods.

Offers down for India's sweatshops - The World from PRX