Behind the Labels (2001)

Lured by false promises and driven by desperation, thousands of Chinese and Filipino women pay high fees for jobs in garment factories on the Pacific Island of Saipan, which despite being a U.S. territory is exempt from federal minimum wage and certain immigration laws. The clothing they sew, bearing the "Made in the USA" label, is shipped duty-free and quota-free to the U.S. for sale by The Gap, J.Crew, Polo, and other retailers. Powerful hidden camera footage, along with the garment workers' personal stories, offer a rare and unforgettable glimpse into indentured labor and the workings of global sweatshops, where 14-hour shifts, payless paydays, and lock-downs are routine. Behind the Labels follows the issues from the factory floor to the streets, where protesters worldwide wage an ongoing battle against corporate globalization. "[A] revelatory documentary about wage slavery, American-style." Time Magazine