Garment Workers Settlement

A $20 million dollar settlement has been approved in the class action lawsuit filed against 55 retailers and manufacturers in a suit filed on behalf of factory workers in the Pacific island of Saipan. Retailers in the settlement include: Target Corp., Gap Inc., J.C. Penney Co., Abercrombie & Fitch and 22 others. The settlement proceeds will be used to compensate and repay 30,000 workers, as well as to set up an independent monitoring system whose intent will be to regulate wages, overtime pay, working conditions and living conditions at factory barracks. (Apr-25-03)