IN A "DATELINE" HIDDEN CAMERA INVESTIGATION, NBC'S CHRIS HANSEN REPORTS ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF GARMENT WORKERS IN BANGLADESH - FRIDAY, JUNE 17 AT 8PM

NEW YORK -- June 13, 2005 -- Do American consumers really understand what's behind the clothing bargains they consistently seek out in places such as Kmart and Wal-Mart? American consumers want cheap clothing and, following the barrage of exposes in the 1990s, they now demand socially conscious offshore labor policies, as well. But are manufacturers in countries like Bangladesh, where the garment business is its largest industry, able to comply with today's ethical standards and still meet the low prices demanded by American companies and consumers? "Dateline" goes undercover in a hidden-camera investigation to report on who is doing the sewing - and under what conditions this Friday, June 17 (8:00 PM, ET). Chris Hansen reports.

In the in-depth report, NBC News travels halfway around the world to Bangladesh, the most densely populated country in the world where life is harsh and jobs hard to come by. While presenting themselves as executives looking to do business in Bangladesh, the "Dateline" team, along with hidden cameras, discovers broken promises about the country's policy on garment workers' hours, pay and conditions. The broadcast includes interviews with American consumers, factory managers, labor activists and garment workers. When asked about the strict working conditions, Masuma, 21, explains, "I have to sit in front of the machine the whole time. I cannot move. I can't even go to the bathroom without my supervisor's permission. After sitting for so long, I feel pain throughout my body." The report culminates when Masuma is taken to a Wal-Mart in the United States, sees the pants she made and meets an American consumer about the conditions under which that product was made.

Chris Hansen is the Correspondent for "Clothes Line," Richard Greenberg is the Producer, Andrew Finkelstein is the Editor, Eric Wagenberg is the Specialized Cameraman, Jonathan Silvers is the Co-Producer, Allan Maraynes the Senior Producer, Marc Rosenwasser is the executive editor, and David Corvo is the senior Executive Producer.