A human rights group has called for Christian retailers to do something about the sale in their stores of crucifixes that are said to have been made under "horrific" sweatshop conditions in China.

According to the National Labor Committee (NLC), based in New York City, crosses sold in some stores come from Chinese factories where young employees are forced to work up to 100 hours a week, earning as little as nine cents an hour after deductions that include charges for “primitive and filthy” shared accommodation.

Naming two Christian gift supplier members of CBA, the NLC report said that the trade association appeared to have "decided, en masse, to follow Wal-Mart to China, where it can exploit defenseless workers ..." and called for help to improve workers' conditions.

CBA President Bill Anderson said in a statement that suppliers and retailers cared "very much" about the conditions in which their products were manufactured "and would never knowingly offer products made in an environment that harms the workers."

Many companies made regular visits to China to ensure quality control and to inspect working conditions, he added. While this could not provide 100% guarantees, "our suppliers are confident they are offering products made in factories in which workers are treated fairly."

Anderson added: "CBA takes seriously the dignity and fair treatment of workers-regardless of nationality or geography."

Read a full report in the Jan. 7 issue of Christian Retailing.

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