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Wal-Mart is known for its
rock-bottom prices |
US retail giant Wal-Mart has been hit with a lawsuit that claims it
ignores sweatshop conditions at many of its suppliers' factories around the
world.
The class-action suit has been filed in Los Angeles on behalf of 15
workers in Bangladesh, Swaziland, Indonesia, China and Nicaragua.
Each claims they were paid less than the minimum wage and not given
overtime payments. Some say they were beaten.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said it was looking into the matter.
'Price pressures'
The lawsuit alleges that Wal-Mart has failed to monitor working conditions
at its overseas suppliers.
It further claims that the low prices Wal-Mart demands force some suppliers
to resort to sweatshop conditions.
"It's really too early for us to be able to say anything about this particular
complaint," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Beth Kath.
"It involves a number of companies and manufacturers and we're just beginning
our research to learn more."
