Many firms hope that, given the paucity of labour inspectors, they will escape uninspected.

ECONOMIST: Race, law and poverty in the new South Africa | The

He disputes the ombudsman's claim that government labour inspectors are too few (there are 62, for a workforce of 2.6m) and too corrupt.

ECONOMIST: Labour rights and free trade with the United States

After the anti-sweatshop campaigns of the late 1990s, all three joined the Fair Labour Association, which sends inspectors, unannounced, to check on working conditions in factories.

ECONOMIST: Sportswear