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July 23, 2010

BP’s Hiring of Prison Labor Cleanup Scrutinized
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The Nation magazine has revealed new details about how BP is receiving
tax credits by relying on cheap or free prison labor to help clean up
the Gulf spill. BP’s reliance on prison labor has been criticized by
many in the region since the disaster has left so many people out of
work. But the hiring of prison labor has apparently been financially
beneficial for BP. Each new prisoner hired by BP comes with a tax credit
of $2,400. On top of that, BP may earn back up to 40 percent of the
wages they pay to prisoners. Prison workers are required to work up to
twelve hours a day, six days a week, and are liable to lose earned good
time if they refuse the job. Inmates are also forbidden to talk to the
public or media. It is unclear how many prisoners are working on the
cleanup, in part because they now wear unidentifiable clothing. In the
days after the spill, prison workers were seen wearing scarlet pants and
white T-shirts with the words "Inmate Labor" printed in large red block
letters.



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