Sweatshops

Ethical Questions
How do we determine the responsibilities of corporations for the well-being of workers, especially internationally? How do we create structures that allow people to achieve their human dignity through their work?

What Are Sweatshops?

Workplaces characterized by harsh, unhealthy conditions and violations of workers rights, whose employees work excessive hours but are paid very low wages Most common in garment-manufacturing and shoe industries 19th century immigration influx led to sweatshops in U.S. and continental Europe 20th century industrialization sprouted sweatshops in Asia and Latin America By the mid-20th century, sweatshop practices outlawed in most developed countries Sweatshop locations include: Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Mexico, Saipan, NYC, LA, Miami, El Paso, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc.

Workers Conditions

Violated rights include: child labor, forced labor, discrimination in employment, right to organize and bargain collectively, and more Dominated by culture of fear and intimidation 90% of sweatshop workers are women, ages 15-22. In order to meet their families needs, sweatshop workers spend 50%-75% of their income on food. Nike CEO makes $14,000 per day, the average Indonesian sweatshop worker makes $2.50 per day. Workers wages are usually 1%-1.5% of the final cost of the product.

Arguing the Sweatshop Issue: Pro

Laborers choose to work in sweatshops. Its easier for children than toiling in a field and better than prostitution.

Wages earned in sweatshops supply workers their only source of livelihood. They want/need the jobs.

Sweatshops stimulate the economies and development of third world countries.

Without sweatshops, both consumers and corporations lose money.

Prices in developing countries are lower; therefore, low wages suffice.

If corporations are forced to pay higher wages, they will cut jobs (unemployment).

Arguing the Sweatshop Issue: Against

Wages are below the cost of living (i.e. 10 cents per hour, 30 cents per hour, 60 cents per hour, yet companies charge high prices for products. Human rights are continuously violated in sweatshops, where workers are beaten, verbally abused, and sexually harassed.

Those in developed countries have no right to live well at the expense of those in developing nations.
All people deserve the same standard of living. Sweatshops have no ventilation, no toilets, and no emergency exits. They are crowded and dirty, and workers are often exposed to toxic chemicals.

Against Sweatshops (ctd.)

Children are forced to work rather than attend school. Workers feel as though a sweatshop is all they have/deserve. It is not free choice. Workers risk death if they call for improvements in factory conditions. Those opposing sweatshops dont wish to close the factories and take away jobs; instead, they want all workers to be paid a living wage in healthy conditions.

Mariana Islands Sweatshops of its 14,000 sweatshop workers contribute 65%

economy--second most profitable industry is tourism April 9, 2005 -- A flood of cheap clothing from Chinese labor forced laid-off sweat shop workers in Saipan to choose between working in China for a fraction of the wages or pursuing legal aid without much hope of success. Saipan's annual clothing shipment is roughly equal to one month of China's

minimum wage in Saipan: $3.05; minimum wage in China: 30

Under the Clinton Administration, Congress worked to pass a bill stripping the Mariana Islands of exemption from immigration and minimum wage laws; legislation passes. However, Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Texas Rep. Tom DeLay killed the bill in the House on the grounds that the low taxes and free enterprise of the Mariana Islands should be left alone.

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart products
Produced in 48 different countries Products mainly from Asian and Central American factories Produced using sweatshop labor

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart as an importer
10% of all Chinese imports are imported by Wal-Mart Own global procurement division

The Wal-Mart Squeeze

Endless quest to squeeze countries for lower wages and cheaper goods Lowering working standards where ever they go

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Textiles and Wal-Mart
Produced by young women 17 to 25 years old Forced to work seven days a week 12 to 28 cents an hour No benefits Housed in crowded and dirty dormitories 24-hour-a-day surveillance

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Toys of Misery and Wal-Mart
Seventy-one percent of the toys sold in the U.S. come from China 13- to 16-hour days molding, assembling, and spraypainting toys 20-hour shifts in peak season (Christmas) Seven days a week Paid as low as 13 cents an hour Live in Shacks or Dorms No medical care or safety equipment Poor Conditions

Sweatshops and Wal-Mart

Not just China
Bangladesh El Salvador

Whos wearing NIKES?

Please check your shoes to see if they were manufactured in Vietnam, China, or Indonesia If they were, they were produced in a sweatshop!

Sweatshop-fueled: the Biggest Offenders

Nike
Factories in Indonesia, Vietnam, Pakistan, and China. Workers receive: $2.00 a day. Cost of shoes: $65.00 (Air Force Chrashin) to $125.00 (Zoom Lebron III). (according to Nike.com) Nike pays superstars like Lebron James and Tiger Woods $90 million - $100 million to endorse their products.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Factories in Saipan. Workers receive: up to $3.05 per hour Cost of polos: $40.00; Cost of jeans: $148.00 (according to Abercrombieandfitch.com). Net income per year: $158 million

Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic

Factories in China, Taiwan, South America, Mexico, Russia, Cambodia and Saipan. Pay for a Cambodian Gap sweatshop employee: $0.21 per hour Cost of Gap jeans: $.58.00 (according to gap.com). 2005 net income: $1, 150 million.

Disney
Factories in Vietnam, Haiti, China Workers receive: $0.11, $.0.17 per hour Cost of pajamas: $40 (according to Disney.com). Disneys sales: about $25 billion per year.

J. Crew
Sweatshops in Los Angeles, Saipan. Workers receive $2.00 per hour. Cost of J. Crew sweaterL $248.00 (Jcrew.com). J. Crew makes 21 million dollars a year.

Alternatives to Sweatshops
Minimum wage facilities As a single person you could stop buying things from sweatshops. It was hard to find an alternativebecause it is hard to find people who would work in place of those who are currently in sweatshops being mistreated. *people currently working in sweatshops in the U.S. are usually illegal immigrants Abolish child labor and open schools Establish health and safety codes

Sweatshops & Cycles of Poverty, Violence, and Despair

Cycle of Poverty- they get paid so little that it is hard to dig themselves out of that hole of poverty, which then creates an ongoing cycle. Their children then grow up in poverty and from the generations it continues on. Cycle of Despair- People lose hope that they can get out of the horrible situation, which then makes it tougher for them to get out of the situation because they feel like no matter what they do things arent getting better. Cycle of Violence- Because they cant afford enough for their families, they then turn to violence. Between these three things they are all linked together and build off of each other.

Agencies Against Sweatshops

Fair Trade Federation -- a group of wholesalers and retailers committed to providing their workers with fair wages and working conditions. International Labor Organization -- focuses on labor policy and laws, especially child labor. National Labor Committee -- is dedicated to educating people about sweatshops and does research on sweatshops around the world and the corporations who abuse them. Sweatshop Watch -- a coalition of organizations dedicated to eliminating sweatshops. United States Against Sweatshops -- a national coalition of students formed in 1998.

Ethical Questions Revisited

How do we determine the responsibilities of corporations for the well-being of workers, especially internationally? How do we create structures that allow people to achieve their human dignity through their work?