WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Workers in Southeast Asia's shrimp industry suffer regular abuse and sometimes live in what amounts to virtual slavery, a human-rights organization said Wednesday. The Solidarity Center report says the global shrimp industry is worth about $13 billion annually. Sexual and physical abuse, debt bondage, child labor and unsafe working conditions are common in Thailand and Bangladesh's shrimp processing factories, the Solidarity Center said in a 40-page report. The Solidarity Center describes itself as "an international nonprofit allied organization of the AFL-CIO established to provide assistance to workers around the world." Workers told Thai police who raided one factory in September 2006 "that if they made a mistake on the shrimp peeling line, asked for sick leave, or tried to escape, they could expect to be beaten, sexually molested, or publicly tortured," according to the report.
@highlight
Sexual and physical abuse, child labor alleged in Southeast Asia shrimp industry
@highlight
Thai police described one factory as "little short of medieval," report says
@highlight
Much of shrimp processed in Thailand is destined for the United States
@highlight
U.S. lawmaker calls report's findings "outrageous ... unacceptable"
Thailand is one of the world's largest shrimp exporters; @placeholder has a much smaller industry.