Clothes Show Me What You're Made Of

These five kids have more gadgets and clothes

than they could ever wish for.

But do they know where their stuff comes from, how it's made

and what life is like for the workers who produce it?

We've brought five kids to the other side of the world to find out.

Can they swap places with the workers of Asia...

-I can't touch bugs.

-..sleep in their homes...

I think it's kind of disgusting, a little hole in the ground.

And they don't even have any toilet roll.

..report to real bosses...

-I don't want you to ask questions when you're working.

-Sorry.

This is not a game. This is real work.

..and when they see firsthand what genuine hardship is...

They're still humans, and they've got to eat this.

..will they think again about how easy they have it at home?

Maybe when she comes back she'll be just a little bit more grateful

for all the things she has got.

They are fashion mad Milly...

I can't wear the same outfit more than a few times.

People look at me and say, "She hasn't got any clothes."

..super-confident Jonas...

Most of the time I see no reason why I shouldn't express an opinion.

..gadget girl Nia...

I go on my Blackberry every single day,

except for when I'm at school.

..principled Nathaniel...

If you just wear it once, there's no point.

..and have-it-all Emma.

Our house is decked out with pretty much every gadget

you can really need.

That sounds really spoilt.

My name is Stacey Dooley,

and I've seen poverty around the world.

But now I'm taking these five kids for a reality check

in the scorching heat of Asia.

SCREAMING

It just makes me think,

Nia, you've got it so good and you just waste it.

Today, they're in Bandung City, where they'll see

the living conditions of those beyond the factory gates...

That's 1800, London.

..and get their chance to put a factory boss on the spot.

Have you ever thought about raising the minimum wage for your workers?

Last time around, the five British kids learned the work

that goes into making cuddly toys.

So much more to stuffing a pig than you thought.

No-one did very well...

Let's bury him!

..particularly Jonas and Milly, who acted up...

-Milly, you know she's watching you?

-..got demoted...

Not good enough.

..and called into the boardroom by the factory bosses.

With all due respect, we couldn't disagree more.

'Only Nia could do the work...'

Nia, well done!

'..and she was rewarded for her efforts.'

There's your wages.

Thank you! That's really sweet! Thank you.

But it's a new day

and things are about to get a lot tougher for the group.

I'm taking our five to one of the hugest clothing factories

in the whole of Southeast Asia, where they will genuinely be working

alongside thousands of other workers on the production line.

I want to get the wage, not because of the money,

just because it shows that I did the best.

I really want to prove myself this time

after last time's not-so-good run.

We're all out there to win the wage.

But to get paid this time around,

the kids will have to do some serious hard graft.

Occupying a site the size of 16 football pitches,

the successful Cartex textile factory is massive.

Our group will be clocking in with the 10,000 strong workforce,

helping make T-shirts, tracksuit and socks

destined for the shops around the world.

And, of course, the UK.

The kids will be working for marketing manager Vijay Nathani.

I want to introduce you to someone very important.

This is Vijay. I'm Stacey, it's a pleasure to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Jonas.

-I'm Vijay. Please come.

OK, kids, I would like you to take this quite seriously,

to enjoy this and work together with us,

because we are making a product of very high quality

and we want to give you some feeling of accomplishment to you guys.

OK? Let's start.

The factory's involved in every step of garment production

and makes about 370 million items of clothing every year.

Whoah, I want to do that, that looks fun.

Here employees get paid above minimum wage.

But, in return, they're expected to work incredibly fast.

Each job has an hourly target which must be met.

We are making 30-35,000 T-shirts per day,

and the garments you will see on the shop floor, we are exporting

to the best brands all over the world.

And the best brands demand the highest of standards.

Vijay needs to know if anyone has the skills to be promoted

on to a real production line and who is only good for demotion.

See, this comes from the machine, and we're going to clean it.

He's set the kids a simple task

tidying up designs that have been stitched on

to see what level of work they're capable of.

When you do this, you should be able to do at least one panel a minute,

so maybe after one hour we see.

Let's go, Nathaniel.

Let's go, girlies.

-Do we need to take out all the little bits, as well?

-Yeah.

Any open stitches or threads have to be cleaned out.

It's actually really tricky.

It's actually not, I think I'm going to win.

Get going.

He's such a motivator.

OK, let's complete the task.

Thinking back about it, I realise everywhere I did go wrong

and everywhere I could have improved it.

So, today, I'm just going to try

and put the wrongs I did yesterday to right.

One bundle.

Because me and you have been paired, we want to win.

I am adamant that I need to get best.

I'm trying to do it as quickly as possible,

but trying to make it precise.

We're halfway through the embroidery task now,

and I've got to say our five do still seem very focused.

I think the girls have probably got the edge over the boys right now.

I'm really struggling to get inside the letters.

-I'm guessing I'll speed up eventually.

-Good, last five minutes.

As the long shift comes to an end,

the group begin to find it difficult to work quickly and accurately.

-This isn't going too well for me.

-I'm finding it hard to do it fast.

I know he's going to have a really close look at them all.

You can't tell anyone, but I think the girls will probably win,

so I am secretly really trying to beat them.

Has anyone shown enough potential to join the factory workers

on a real production line?

OK, boys and girls, time is over, tools down.

I worked so hard.

Vijay and his quality-controller judge the kids' handiwork.

Has anyone come close to the quality and quantity of work he expects?

Let me tell you, against the target which was set at 60 pieces,

you have just managed 50%.

If you're going to work in an industry of this type,

a 50% performance is very bad.

You might get downgraded or maybe get sacked.

You have to be hard-working, you have to be serious.

Otherwise, I don't think so.

The future is not good for you guys.

We all put, like, all our efforts into it, and then to say,

"We're still not good enough,"

it's because it's only our first day,

we'd never done anything like this before.

Do you understand Vijay's point of view as a boss?

Yeah, I understand his point of view,

but obviously these people do it every single day.

-A bit disheartening?

-Yeah.

It's like, there's no point putting effort in

if you're only going to get, "You would have got sacked."

So, what Vijay has said has actually made you feel less enthusiastic?

Unless you actually get the numbers,

you don't get the money at the end, so...

without targets, nothing'll ever get done.

It's a harsh lesson in the realities of factory work.

It's not just about effort, but also results.

No-one's reached Vijay's tough standards,

but the girls have shown promise.

Unfortunately for the boys, a lot of their work's been rejected

and they get demoted.

So, boys, because you lost the task,

you're going to get a nightshift in the sock factory...

-No way!

-..and see how you get on.

No rest for the wicked.

Once a loser, always a loser.

The working day may have ended,

but for the demoted boys, there's still plenty to do.

-NATHANIEL:

-You can smell the socks! Good and fresh!

They're joining 1,000 other workers on the nightshift -

eight hours pairing up socks and bundling them into packs.

We're not very strong and the hours are long.

This work is unsatisfactory.

As the hours pass on the long night shift,

Jonas begins to realise just how gruelling factory work can be.

When you see it at night and it's just silent,

it's all just a production line,

just work, work, work, as hard as you can.

I just feel sorry for these people, I really do.

I understand the whole concept that

running a factory like this is just business,

that's how the world runs, but we weren't told by a boss

a couple of hours ago that this seven and a half hour period of work,

like intense work, would be for just a few pounds,

and it doesn't seem like a particularly luxurious life.

Jonas may not enjoy it,

but jobs in Cartex are highly regarded and much sought after.

I've arranged for Emma and Nia to visit the home of an employee

from another textile factory,

so they can learn more about life away from work.

Oh, is this each person's room?

Urgh, this is disgusting. I don't want to touch anything here.

Every year, thousands of young Indonesians leave their families

for work in a city.

-It smells bad.

-I'm not even trying to smell anything.

Many of those workers end up in boarding houses like this.

It's really, really small and really cooped up.

Yeah. There's loads of plates and toothbrushes just lying around.

Look, there's just a hole in the floor. It's so dirty.

Oh, my god, that's the shower.

-Hi.

-Hi.

Emma and Nia are visiting 21-year-old Ay,

who three years ago left home in search of a better life.

TRANSLATION: Those are photos with my friends.

This is the wardrobe where I keep my clothes.

This is where I keep my food.

It's got to be the smallest kitchen I've ever seen.

Yes, this is my small house.

I can't believe you can fit all your clothes in a wardrobe that big.

My wardrobe's much bigger.

Emma's home life in Surrey couldn't be more different to Ay's.

With her family, this privileged 14-year-old

loves living the good life.

I think I've pretty much got everything I want,

but I do want the new Blackberry, new laptop and the new iPod,

but I know that that just sounds really spoilt.

This fashion lover certainly doesn't want for anything

in the clothing department.

This is my wardrobe.

'I just love putting an outfit together and making it my own.

'When I wear clothes that I love,

'it makes me feel really good about myself.'

Shopping's my favourite thing.

I go round, I'm like, "Let's just get everything!"

It feels like she comes back every weekend with bags full of clothes

and I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure

there's clothes upstairs she's never worn.

So, how does Dad Paul think Emma will cope?

If she sees poverty, she'll find it potentially quite distressing

and quite upsetting.

I think she'll possibly be quite shocked actually.

TRANSLATION: So, what do you think about my house?

Your house

or whatever it's called,

it's just the basics

and it's a lot different to anything in England.

It's strange for us to see this.

We've never seen anything like this before.

It's such an adjustment. If I had to live somewhere like this,

I wouldn't have the luxuries I have

and I don't think I'd cope very well.

So, do your family live nearby or far away?

My family live in another town.

-Do you see them very often?

-Not very often.

Once every three to six months.

I feel lonely, but I have friends and neighbours here,

so I can be happy.

And do you work at the factory just to support yourself?

No, I don't work for myself.

My wages also support my family.

In fact, Ay sends more than half her money to her parents

to help look after her six brothers and sisters.

BOTH: Terima kasih!

TRANSLATION FROM INDONESIAN:

And once the bills have been paid,

she barely has enough money for herself.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, bye.

'Her little room is so small.'

Her kitchen, her bedroom,

her lounge, her dining room...

-Everything in one.

-..it's everything in one

and it's not even like half the size of my bedroom.

So it must be so hard to live somewhere like that.

With that money, if she didn't send it to her parents,

she probably could afford a bigger room or some more clothes.

But she's making the sacrifice for the benefit of other people.

I think that's really sweet.

It's early morning day two,

and the girls return to work in the sock factory.

# We've got four socks, we've got more than four socks

# We've got six socks, we've got eight socks,

# We've got ten socks, oh oh! #

Yesterday the girls were promoted,

so they're joining a real factory production line.

Wow!

Loading socks onto a machine that steams them into shape.

The only thing is it's really hot and that noise might get annoying.

MECHANICAL CLANKING

This work's all about speed.

If they can't keep up with the conveyor belt,

sock production is disrupted

and the workers around them slowed down.

Ah!

Time on the factory floor has made Emma think more about Ay.

She's probably doing something like this and working hard.

We find it so challenging, but they have to put up with this

'every single day.'

Ah, this is so hard!

'They know if they don't do the work, then they won't get paid

'and they won't have food. That plus the heat, you're doing so much work'

and you're not even living in a house, it's a room.

The workers here usually hit a daily target

of one million socks.

But, with the girls joining the team,

it's not long before there's a problem.

TRANSLATION: I understand they are new to this,

but I don't think they are going to improve.

They should concentrate more,

be more serious and work harder.

'One hour in and the day shift is failing to reach its target

'and it's up to me to break the news.'

I chatted with the lady working alongside you.

She used the word "Terrible."

That's a bit of an exaggeration if you ask me.

She thought you maybe didn't do as well

as all the other Indonesian workers. You didn't hit targets,

the work wasn't as good as she would ordinarily like.

I'm not liking all the criticism.

Well it's not even criticism, it's just insults.

She's just being honest. She's saying her job

was a lot more difficult because you three struggled a bit, I think.

But you know what? Everybody always tells you to try your best

and that's the best you can do.

But we try our best and they say, "You're not good enough."

-Why do you think that is?

-It's business, isn't it?

-The profits.

So you have to have the right attitude

and you have to be brilliant at the job.

That's how cut throat it is here.

"You want to go out for a date?" "Sure, baby!"

Mwah!

Leaving the girls in socks, I'm taking the boys

around the streets of Bandung city,

just outside the factory.

So boys, I've brought you to this particular spot

because I just thought you're not genuinely understanding

what life is really like for an Indonesian worker.

This is how they live, this is the environment they live in.

If you're able to see both sides of their life,

you might be able to understand more.

'More than 15,000 people live in this packed area

'and I think the boys might be shocked by the experience.'

Have you been anywhere like this before?

No. This is a lot of people in a really small, unhygienic place.

Hi.

So what do you think about the surroundings?

I mean, look at this. This is someone's home.

-It's so basic.

-Really medieval. I don't think I'd be able to cope.

It's just really shocking and really, really bad

to think that massive hours, really skilled people,

lots of training, come back to live in a place that's disgusting.

Whilst stood outside, the boys spot the homeowner

and go over to find out more.

Do you own this or do you rent it or is from the factory?

TRANSLATION: This house is owned by my parents.

So, how many people live here and how many kids do you have?

Cos I'm guessing, these aren't all your kids?

Four people. Two children, me and my husband.

Are we allowed to go in your house? Is that possible?

Yes, you can come into my house, but it's dirty and messy.

No problem. My house is always messy. Clothes everywhere!

-It's like a little dolls' house.

-Oh, it smells.

This is the living room,

but we use it as a dining room, watch TV here,

and sometimes sleep here too.

-Is this your kitchen?

-Yeah.

-Oh, right.

She's cooking for a family of four, with one saucepan

-and a plug-in gas thing.

-She must do it on her knees,

it's so small.

There'll be nowhere to prepare, to chop, apart from the floor

and that looks obviously really dirty.

I think that's even beyond

Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares standards.

The woman's home is a far cry

from the one enjoyed by Nathaniel and his family.

From Goole, Yorkshire, he's the only one of the group with a regular job.

I get £15 a week from my paper round

and I can get really what I want to get with my money

without having to ask my Dad for stuff.

I think it's important for people of my age

to actually earn a living,

because you're going to have to do it when you're older.

And the hard work for Nathaniel doesn't stop once he's home.

I wash up every day and that's my job around the house.

My parents will say, "It's time to wash up, Nathaniel."

But if they like weren't here

and there was a big pile of washing-up, then I think I'd do it.

For years, Nathaniel's been dreaming of globetrotting.

Nathaniel's always said he wants to travel round the world.

He'll point to places on the globe where he wants to go.

My globe's quite important to me.

It shows me places I might see when I'm older.

It's like a life skill, to be able to compare cultures

and be able to see life in different places.

It will be a good growing-up experience.

He's never seen people that have got nothing.

To go and see how they live would be quite an eye-opener for him.

-Bon appetit.

-Bon appetit.

Seeing people in Indonesia, The Philippines

that don't have the basic stuff you need to survive like clean water,

'I think that it would quite upset me.'

'I always complain that my kitchen's really small. But after seeing this,

'I don't think I will again. My kitchen's four times bigger.'

-Where is your water from?

-TRANSLATION: There's a well,

but we only use the water for showering.

Does the well water have more disease in, would you say?

The water from the well is yellow, so we don't use it for cooking

and I don't wash the kids with it, because I'm worried

it will cause skin problems.

This is bad, I was under the impression that Indonesia,

because it's a developing place,

they could turn on their taps and get water.

But yeah, it's really bad here.

To come here and think that they would have to use yellow water

that's obviously full of disease, it makes me really upset.

It is unfair because we can go home after,

like not a hard day at school and be able to relax,

when they work so much harder and have nothing to come home to.

-Oh, is that sewage?

-What do you think this is?

-Sewage.

-It stinks.

Is this poo?

Fancy a bite to eat?

That's 1800s London.

This is an open sewer running through the side

-of the neighbourhood.

-That's not healthy at all.

'And near to the sewer, something you'll find anywhere in Britain.'

So lads, this is the corner shop.

Whoa, this is mental.

'This one's like nothing they've seen before.'

-Is this just like intestines?

-I'd be vegetarian if I moved here.

-Fancy any of that lettuce?

-No, thanks.

It's got fly poo everywhere, little dots of fly poo.

I'm really shocked at this stall. All the kids are really skinny,

they've all like got sunken faces and maybe this is why.

Is this where everyone from all around the block buys their food?

Yeah.

Being here, without sounding too snobby,

is really bad and makes you like foods anywhere else.

Even my Mum's cooking is actually not too bad.

I'm never going to be able to look at anything

in my local supermarket the same way again.

Even though they are 7,000 miles away, they're still humans

and they've got to eat this.

I want to leave.

The boys are beginning to understand

it's the demand for cheap clothes in the West

that's behind the low wages in Asia.

I know that we buy goods for really cheap in England.

So if we're paying £2 for a toy, that goes £1.50 to the retailer

and then eventually squeezes down till you get so little money

for the actual worker.

As a good old Brit, I can relate to the fact that we love a bargain.

But it just goes to show that what's good for us

is really bad for these people here.

I think it's partly the Western world's fault

for wanting cheap goods, that these people

have got to be paid not as much as they should.

I would rather pay more for like a pair of five socks

than think that these people are going to go home

to a one-bedroomed house

with not enough money in their pockets.

The job is hard and they should be paid more for it.

Guys, get in there.

'With their time here nearly over,

'the five Brits have one final chance'

to prove they can match the speed and efficiency

of the Indonesian workers.

They'll be given a box with the same amount of socks.

All they have to do is turn it inside out

and put it in the pile.

Let's see how easy it is.

The children's challenge is to make sure there's a ready

supply of socks for the steaming machine.

And straightaway, the kids all get off to a flyer,

desperate to earn that wage.

# You girls are going to lose, bling, bling,

# Cos we're going to win this thing.

# Hey, hey, hey, hey, hoy, hoy, hoy, hoy. #

After being stung by criticism in their earlier sock task,

the girls are determined not to let their Indonesian colleagues down.

They're focussed, single-minded and ruthlessly efficient...

Oh! Oh, it came out.

Unlike the boys.

How are you finding the heat, Emma? It's hot in here.

Yeah, I don't care about the heat.

-Nia, feel like you're going to win?

-Yeah.

You guys seem really, really focussed on this one.

-Yeah.

-I'll leave you to it.

-Thanks, bye.

Good luck, girls.

The girls' hard work is paying off.

They're keeping pace with the production line.

-One after the other...

-I've won, I've finished!

..they quickly complete the task.

-Finished!

-Well done, Nia. Well done.

Leaving the boys to battle it out.

How did you do all this and them in that time?

I'm going to be last. Well, apart from you.

So, as Nathaniel and Jonas finish off their task,

the group's time at the factory comes to an end.

But before they go,

Vijay calls everyone into the boardroom for his final assessment.

By the final task, the girls did match their Indonesian colleagues.

But has anyone done enough to impress?

So, gang, end of the second day.

Our time at this factory has come to an end.

ALL: Aw!

-So, Vijay...

-Yes.

I'm keen to know, out of our five,

are there any that have particularly shone for you?

I would say that Nia, Emma and Milly...

-Yes!

-..they started excellently.

They did well and they applied themselves very fast.

Yes!

And this is what you would have earned...

-Thank you.

-..over the past two days.

-So have a nose and see what you think.

-Thank you.

You've got just under £8. That's just under four quid a day.

This is the last time that we're going to spend time

with Vijay, so is there anything you want to ask him?

Any questions you've got?

Have you ever thought about raising the minimum wage for your workers?

Yes, we do. In fact, it is done every six months. Let me tell you,

if the Government says the minimum wage is £100,

we are giving 20% more.

Would you say the minimum wage is enough to survive on?

Yes they have sufficient. We give them additional facility.

They can buy water from here, we give them transportation allowance.

-OK.

-Because, what we want is the workers to be happy.

If they are happy, their performance is good

and the company will also perform.

-Ah, that's nice.

-I've got a question.

Can I buy some socks?

Coming up next time...

-Excited?

-Yeah.

'The group meet their toughest boss yet.'

I need 6 metres of this. Do your mathematics.

Tensions run high in the jewellery factory.

-What will I do with this now?

-So sorry.

-He really tries.

-It's not good enough.

'And the kids get back to nature with village life.'

-Are there any bugs?

-A spider.