國際勞工權利基金會執行長(International Labor Rights Fund) Pharis Harvey 對血汗工廠 (sweatshop) 的解釋是:
Any workplace where the wages are inadequate, the hours too long, and the working conditions endanger safety or health - whether or not any laws are violated. (任何工作場所給予不足的薪資, 或超長的工時, 或危害勞工安全或健康的惡劣工作環境, 無論他是否違反當地法律與否。)