Three former employees of the LA division of TV producers Fremantle Media have accused the company of making them work under "sweatshop" conditions. In a lawsuit in LA, the three former telly execs, one of whom worked on 'American Idol', say they were forced to work seven days a week, sometimes up to 20 hours a day, and that they were then asked to falsify their time cards so their unpaid overtime couldn't be seen on the records.
The lawyer representing the plaintiffs told reporters: "There's no Hollywood glamour for the below-the-line people who work on 'American Idol' and other reality shows, who are grossly underpaid, worked 24/7 and receive no rest or meal breaks and no health coverage contrary to California labour laws".
A Fremantle Media spokesperson refused to comment on the lawsuit.