Sweat-Free Ts is inspired by our biblical faith and call to discipleship—as well as growing consumer demand within the modern-day garment industry for responsibly sourced products. “Clean clothes” and anti-sweatshop campaigns have also helped shape our work. Advocates in many places are encouraging manufacturers to produce goods in ways that respect the dignity, safety and rights of workers. There are many ways concerned Presbyterians can support our sisters and brothers in Christ who work hard on the production end of the garment chain.

Since all of our actions—including our consumer purchases—reflect our faith and values, each purchase we make supports either the sweatshop industry or the growing number of innovative companies and cooperatives that abstain from sweatshop labor and have committed themselves to sweat-free values. Purchasing garments from responsible manufacturers, companies and cooperatives not only sends the message that we support their principles—it reflects our faith in a God and who promises that a better world is possible.

The PC(USA) also provides opportunities for Presbyterians and co-op members to meet face-to-face and develop relationships. Twice the Presbyterian Hunger Program has supported co-op leaders’ travel to the United States on speaking tours to local congregations and special events. In January 2006 Enough for Everyone is sponsoring a PC(USA) Fair Trade Delegation to Nicaragua so that Presbyterians can experience the cooperative firsthand, in its own context, and bring their stories home.

Read more about the cooperative.

Sweat-Free Principles

The following are examples of sweat-free principles:

• Workers receive a fair living wage and benefits.
• Working conditions are just, including:
  • freedom from excessive working hours and forced labor in all its forms
  • freedom from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and
  • protection from workplace health and safety hazards.
• Children are not subject to working conditions that jeopardize their physical, psychological, or intellectual development.
• Women are neither discriminated against nor harassed.
• All workers are free to organize and negotiate collective bargaining agreements.

To read Presbyterian Church (USA) policy regarding sweatshops, work and ethical purchasing, visit our Resources and Links page.

Other Options

While the Nueva Vida cooperative is our primary Sweat-Free source, additionally a number of sweat-free vendors exist that Presbyterians are welcome to support. We make the Nicaraguan cooperative’s t-shirts readily available to Presbyterians through Presbyterian Distribution Service, but church groups are also welcome to seek out sweat-free vendors in their own communities or through the Clean Clothes Connection. This online database of companies has been compiled by our friends at the Clean Clothes Resource Center/PICA. Their Sweat-Free Disclosure Form , based on international standards set forth in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labor Organization (ILO), is a means by which suppliers can

• identify the names and locations of production facilities,
• verify that production facilities comply with all applicable laws and international labor and human rights conventions, and
• provide evidence that workers have a say in how they are treated.