So I hope we all agree that meaningless work is bad, and that if the clothing is going to end up in a dump anyway then the workers should be given their pay and then left to put their feet up. That situation is indefensible.
But the argument about sweatshops is pretty settled:
* These people are not stupid, they would not work in sweatshops if sweatshops weren't the best alternative available.
* The existence of sweatshops doesn't, in any fundamental way, prevent the development of more advanced and dignified industry. Many industrial countries have a history of slavery (eg, America) and poor working conditions (eg, England) that they levered themselves out of.
* Bootstrapping an economy starting with cheap, unpleasant labouring appears to have worked stupendously well for the Chinese.
But the argument about sweatshops is pretty settled:
* These people are not stupid, they would not work in sweatshops if sweatshops weren't the best alternative available.
* The existence of sweatshops doesn't, in any fundamental way, prevent the development of more advanced and dignified industry. Many industrial countries have a history of slavery (eg, America) and poor working conditions (eg, England) that they levered themselves out of.
* Bootstrapping an economy starting with cheap, unpleasant labouring appears to have worked stupendously well for the Chinese.