What Can You Do About It?

1. Raise Awareness
No progress will be made if it's not a talked about issue. We have to all not be okay with what is going on and stop ignoring the problem. If we're not against the current system at our end, we can never expect change on their end. We can't accept what is currently happening as a norm and carry on purchasing freely as if this doesn't matter.

2. Boycott
This is an extreme action and has arguably less of an impact than expected, however it relates to #1 with spreading awareness. If enough people were publicly unhappy with a current company and the way they choose to manufacture their products eventually they would be forced to comply with our wishes and the laws as they fell under public radar. Companies could get away with less and would be more inclined to change their ways as the image of their brand declined.

3. Buy Fair Trade
This is also something that may not be the easiest solution but it really is one of the only ones. Buying fair trade ensures that the products you purchase don't come from these horrible places, however it's more money and less convenient. It's unrealistic to expect that everyone can afford, has access to and is willing to purchase all fair trade products. It's going to take a dramatic shift in the way fair trade is sold, marketed and made available before it becomes a more popular trend.

4. Buy Secondhand
The damage has already been done, buying secondhand not only saves you money but it also doesn't support the large brands that use sweatshops. This is of course a temporary fix, it doesn't stop the mass productions but it does lessen the amount of purchases you make. This is more of a solution to a guilty conscience than anything, but it is somewhat beneficial.

5. Don't Say You Can't Do Anything

"When pressured, companies have demonstrated they can deliver products at good prices while providing fair wages and working conditions, as the recent example of hand-stitched leather soccer balls proved.

Pakistani children 6-14 years old were crammed into dirt-floored shacks, laboring over tiny stitches that crippled undeveloped fingers sewing six sides of 32 panels to create one "handmade" soccer ball. The ball would sell for $30-50 in America, and the child would receive about 30 cents. Balls were sold by Nike, Reebok, Adidas and other familiar names.

Consumer pressure led to the world governing body of soccer signing a code of conduct forbidding child labor or forced labor in soccer ball production. As a result, now Nike and Reebok plan to build soccer ball factories in Pakistan employing only adults and developing education programs for children. These programs will also employ other members of the family when children are removed from the factory."

There may not be any quick fixes or ways to end it all at once, but like most things it's something you have to work at. If everyone just cared a little bit more these problems would eventually be solved, but they aren't going to solve themselves. 

The main solution to these problems is to educate everyone as much as possible and don't stop talking about it until something is changed.