Workplace Death Traps: 9 Countries With the Worst Factory Conditions

Workers in these areas suffer disasters, low wages and more.

 Under Bad Conditions - Earlier this year, the deadliest garment factory accident in history occurred when an eight-story building collapsed in Savar, Bangladesh. More than 1,100 people were killed, approximately 2,500 were injured and the incident spotlighted glaringly deficient safety conditions within the global garment industry. Keep reading to learn about several other countries with inadequate working conditions and consistently bad track records.— Patrice Peck (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

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 Under Bad Conditions - Earlier this year, the deadliest garment factory accident in history occurred when an eight-story building collapsed in Savar, Bangladesh. More than 1,100 people were killed, approximately 2,500 were injured and the incident spotlighted glaringly deficient safety conditions within the global garment industry. Keep reading to learn about several other countries with inadequate working conditions and consistently bad track records.— Patrice Peck (Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Bangladesh    - The 2013 Savar building collapse drew the attention and criticism of politicians, advocacy groups, consumers and fashion professionals worldwide. Human Rights Watch pointed to the growing number of Bangladesh factory building tragedies in recent years — notably the 2012 Dhaka fire, to demonstrate the customary nature of these events.(Photo: ANDREW BIRAJ/LANDOV)

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Bangladesh    - The 2013 Savar building collapse drew the attention and criticism of politicians, advocacy groups, consumers and fashion professionals worldwide. Human Rights Watch pointed to the growing number of Bangladesh factory building tragedies in recent years — notably the 2012 Dhaka fire, to demonstrate the customary nature of these events.(Photo: ANDREW BIRAJ/LANDOV)

Bangladesh - Both American and European retailers have created or are considering subsequent agreements to maintain minimum safety standards in the Bangladesh garment industry. Yet, as NPR reports, many survivors and victims’ families are still waiting for compensation promised to them. (Photo: AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

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Bangladesh - Both American and European retailers have created or are considering subsequent agreements to maintain minimum safety standards in the Bangladesh garment industry. Yet, as NPR reports, many survivors and victims’ families are still waiting for compensation promised to them. (Photo: AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

Brawl Closes Chinese iPhone Plant - Production came to a standstill at a Foxconn Technology plan in northern China after a fight broke out between two workers and escalated into a full-scale brawl involving nearly 2,000 employees. Foxconn Technology is a major supplier for Apple and has come under fire for its alleged poor working conditions. (Photo: Bobby Yip/REUTERS)

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China - Often considered the factory of the world, China’s economy relies heavily on its extensive export industries, including textile and clothing manufacturing, which earned as estimated $38,470,006 in 2010. Yet human rights groups have continuously claimed that workers’ are exploited and their basic rights and freedoms denied. (Photo: REUTERS/Bobby Yip)

Chinese Workers Revolt Over 2-Minute Bathroom Breaks - Hundreds of Chinese factory workers grew intensely angry about strictly timed bathroom breaks and fines for starting work late.    (Photo: REUTERS/Bobby Yip)

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China - Apple most recently faced allegations of worker rights violations at the Chinese factories of one of its suppliers, including child labor, contract violations and extreme working hours.(Photo: REUTERS/Bobby Yip)

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Nicaragua - Garment manufacturers are the main source of foreign investment in this impoverished Central American country. Considered a nation with a strong labor history, Nicaragua permits unions, but not in free-trade zones where garment factories are typically located.(Photo: Oswaldo Rivas / Reuters)

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Nicaragua - Garment manufacturers are the main source of foreign investment in this impoverished Central American country. Considered a nation with a strong labor history, Nicaragua permits unions, but not in free-trade zones where garment factories are typically located.(Photo: Oswaldo Rivas / Reuters)

Nicaragua - Human rights organization Global Exchange reported that only 3 percent of the 30,000 workers working in Nicaragua’s state-sponsored free trade zone are unionized. “Workers are expected to leave their liberty at the factory gates,” said the organization. As for pay, textile workers receive about $130 per month, the lowest wage in Central America.(Photo: Xinhua/Landov)

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Nicaragua - Human rights organization Global Exchange reported that only 3 percent of the 30,000 workers working in Nicaragua’s state-sponsored free trade zone are unionized. “Workers are expected to leave their liberty at the factory gates,” said the organization. As for pay, textile workers receive about $130 per month, the lowest wage in Central America.(Photo: Xinhua/Landov)

India - While most of India’s large-scale local factories have improved working conditions and safety thanks to compliance with buyers’ and organizations’ requirements, as much as 75 percent of Indian-made garments are reportedly made in tiny, unregulated sweatshops. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

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India - While most of India’s large-scale local factories have improved working conditions and safety thanks to compliance with buyers’ and organizations’ requirements, as much as 75 percent of Indian-made garments are reportedly made in tiny, unregulated sweatshops. (Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

India - Meanwhile, occupational health and safety “is almost non-existent,” wrote Shyam Pingle in a 2012 report. Global Post reported that while not on a massive scale as with the 2013 Savar collapse, thousands of separate, undocumented accidents happen every year, and hundreds of thousands of workers are exposed to dangerous substances and forced to work in unsafe conditions.(Photo: STR/LANDOV)

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India - Meanwhile, occupational health and safety “is almost non-existent,” wrote Shyam Pingle in a 2012 report. Global Post reported that while not on a massive scale as with the 2013 Savar collapse, thousands of separate, undocumented accidents happen every year, and hundreds of thousands of workers are exposed to dangerous substances and forced to work in unsafe conditions.(Photo: STR/LANDOV)

Brazil - A 2011 case placed Brazil’s garment factory industry and popular Spanish retailer Zara on the global stage after human rights advocates revealed the modern day slave labor endured mostly by the country’s Bolivian immigrants.(Photo: REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker)

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Brazil - A 2011 case placed Brazil’s garment factory industry and popular Spanish retailer Zara on the global stage after human rights advocates revealed the modern day slave labor endured mostly by the country’s Bolivian immigrants.(Photo: REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker)

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Brazil - Outraged consumers and advocacy groups lambasted the highly-successful international clothing chain for the relatively low wage given to its factory workers, as well as the critical safety conditions. Zara has since broken ties with the contractor and allegedly reimbursed the workers, according to The Wall Street Journal.(Photo: Nelson Antoine/FotoArena/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Philippines - In the spring of 2013, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III rejected proposals that included salary increases and the exemption of workers’ bonuses from taxes, reports The Epoch Times.   (Photo: REUTERS/Erik De Castro)

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Philippines - In the spring of 2013, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III rejected proposals that included salary increases and the exemption of workers’ bonuses from taxes, reports The Epoch Times.   (Photo: REUTERS/Erik De Castro)

Philippines - Approximately 8,000 workers protested in the capital, Manila, a week following the Bangladesh garment factory collapse in May to call for regular jobs instead of contractual work and better pay. That same month, more than a dozen garment workers were burned to their death while locked in a garment store, which doubled as their dormitory.(Photo: Romeo Ranoco/Landov

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Philippines - Approximately 8,000 workers protested in the capital, Manila, a week following the Bangladesh garment factory collapse in May to call for regular jobs instead of contractual work and better pay. That same month, more than a dozen garment workers were burned to their death while locked in a garment store, which doubled as their dormitory.(Photo: Romeo Ranoco/Landov

Pakistan - The most deadly and worst industrial factory fires in Pakistan’s history took place on September 11, 2012, killing more than 300 people and seriously injuring more than 250. Survivors claimed that emergency exits had been locked and windows barred, preventing the victims from fleeing.(Photo: REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood)

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Pakistan - The most deadly and worst industrial factory fires in Pakistan’s history took place on September 11, 2012, killing more than 300 people and seriously injuring more than 250. Survivors claimed that emergency exits had been locked and windows barred, preventing the victims from fleeing.(Photo: REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood)

Pakistan - Health and safety conditions throughout the South Asian nation’s sweeping garment industry have long since been scrutinized by trade unions and workers’ rights organizations, as have had its wide use of child laborers.(Photo: XINHUA/LANDOV)

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Pakistan - Health and safety conditions throughout the South Asian nation’s sweeping garment industry have long since been scrutinized by trade unions and workers’ rights organizations, as have had its wide use of child laborers.(Photo: XINHUA/LANDOV)

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Cambodia - As the country’s biggest export earner — accounting for more than $260 million in 2012 — Cambodia’s garment industry partnered with the International Labor Organization to host “Better Factories Cambodia,” an assessment and monitoring program. Yet, critics have complained about the general nature of the program’s findings.(Photo: REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea)

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Cambodia - As the country’s biggest export earner — accounting for more than $260 million in 2012 — Cambodia’s garment industry partnered with the International Labor Organization to host “Better Factories Cambodia,” an assessment and monitoring program. Yet, critics have complained about the general nature of the program’s findings.(Photo: REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea)

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Cambodia - Most recently, a poorly built ceiling in a factory that makes Asic sneakers collapsed, killing two people and injuring seven a little more than three weeks after the notorious factory collapse in Bangladesh. Safety improvements since the tragedy have been scarce, reported The Cambodian Daily.(Photo: TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP/Getty Images)

Lesotho - A stringent crackdown in 2011 consisting of the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act produced moderate progress in efforts to eradicate the worst forms of child labor in Lesotho, one of Africa’s largest textile manufacturers.(Photo: Pieter Bauermeister/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Lesotho - A stringent crackdown in 2011 consisting of the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act produced moderate progress in efforts to eradicate the worst forms of child labor in Lesotho, one of Africa’s largest textile manufacturers.(Photo: Pieter Bauermeister/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lesotho - Yet, as the United States Department of Labor reported, “gaps in the labor law leave children working without a contract or in unregulated establishments unprotected from labor violations.” Toxic waste dumps in and around garment factories have also exposed children to dangerous chemicals, as uncovered by Sunday Times.(Photo: Peter Bauermeister/Bloomberg New/Getty Images)

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Lesotho - Yet, as the United States Department of Labor reported, “gaps in the labor law leave children working without a contract or in unregulated establishments unprotected from labor violations.” Toxic waste dumps in and around garment factories have also exposed children to dangerous chemicals, as uncovered by Sunday Times.(Photo: Peter Bauermeister/Bloomberg New/Getty Images)