Child 'Slave' Laborers Fall Into the Gap

Ten-year-olds were found stitching Gap apparel in a filthy New Delhi sweatshop, some without pay, in an investigation by the Guardian. The kids interviewed by the paper reported long hours of unpaid work, threats and beatings. Serial numbers on the beaded blouses they were working on were ID'd by the Gap, which pulled the items from shelves and launched a probe, the Guardian reports.

Critics have routinely slammed the Gap for outsourcing to India, the world’s child labor capital—and the Gap has paid attention, cutting contracts with more than 150 suppliers since 2004. The company calls today's allegations "deeply unsettling" and adds, "We firmly believe that under no circumstances is it acceptable for children to produce or work on garments.” (More The Gap stories.)