Free Zones: Not Free at All

In my IB History of the Americas class, we were watching a movie entitled Life and Debt which focuses on the economic troubles of Jamaica and how America's perception of the country is not accurate. Something stood out particularly when we were watching this film. Jamaica has five "Free Zones", which are trade zones with no government. According to pajfz.com, "Within these Free Zones goods can be manufactured, warehoused, packaged for export, free from normal taxes, and free from normal customs and requirements." Sounds too good to be true? Well then, you have the eye of a philanthropist. According to Wikipedia, "The free zones have been criticized as United States-subsidized sweatshops." The movie Life and Debt introduces five workers of the Free Zone who work five eight hour days a week to make the minimum wage of just $30 a week. According to lifeanddebt.org, "Over 10,000 women currently work for foreign companies under sub-standard work conditions." The movie particularly featured the Hanes company...When the women have spoken out and attempted to organize to improve their wages and working conditions, they have been fired and their names included on a blacklist ensuring that they never work again." One of the companies that was featured in the movie was Hanes. The irony? According to Wikepedia, "HanesBrands has been recognized for work that it has done for the environment, including "green" buildings.The company also has been recognized for the work it has done in communities such as the support of schools in Honduras and its hurricane relief efforts in the Dominican Republic." Thus proving that it is always important to research where your clothing actually comes from. If you would like to learn more, watch Life and Debt! Especially if you have any interest in Jamaica and in economics. That's all for now.