Nike keeps wages low, rather than driving them up in the context of the local economy. For only a few pennies more, Nike could pay the workers a much fairer wage, and if American consumers were only willing to pay a bit more, the overall economic health of the developing world might be improved. Also, by using the developed world as a source of cheap labor, no local industry and entrepreneurship is stimulated -- local industries cannot compete against Nike, and Nike essentially uses the developing nation as a colonial outpost, rather than makes a contribution to the nation's economic progress by building its infrastructure like a local company might be able to do. Rather than cultivating relationships with businessmen abroad in the developed world, Nike instead exploits the developed world as a source of profit and stifles local businesses. U.S. labor union, would add that Nike takes jobs away from American workers by outsourcing labor abroad. Again, for only pennies more a day the mega-company could employ American workers. Furthermore, even if the labor organization did not directly represent international workers, it would be filled with a sense of outrage that basic labor standards were being violated, such as the fact that workers in the chemical section of the factory were not provided with enough protective gear,...
It gives people some work, and thus some hope, and will hopefully provide an economic foundation for a developing country's future. Nike's presence will also establish deep and hopefully economically fruitful ties that would not otherwise exist between a poor foreign nation and a major $9 billion dollar company. Unsafe working conditions, forced wages and long hours are endemic to the developing world, as in the nation individuals must often endure unsanitary conditions simply to live. Nike's code of conduct, even if imperfectly followed is better than some of the ethical and social carelessness of native corporations, and Nike's example can provide an example to home-grown entrepreneurs in the future. Finally, the national attention garnered by Nike and the scrutiny it provokes acts as a safety 'guardian' itself which quite often the government is unable to provide, given the financially strapped nature of the nation. Local businesses who abuse their workers might simply 'pass' beneath the radar.
Sweatshops in Third World Countries Not so long ago when the word sweatshop was mentioned, images of Charles Dickens would surface, for the notion of sweatshops seemed to be a thing of the past. However, in recent years, sweatshops have been at the forefront of media attention. They are back, actually they never truly went away at all, and they are back in full swing around the world, mostly in third
Thus it can improve the fates of the sweatshop workers' children, by infusing income into the poorer nation. The argument in favor of the employment of illegal workers in the United States is that the workers chose their lot by illegally immigrating and often work under better conditions than they would on their home soil. Also, the children of the illegal workers will improve if the children are allowed
Sweatshops Are Sweatshops a Necessarily Evil? Within the last few years, Americans have become aware that sometimes when American corporations send manufacturing tasks to foreign countries, those tasks end up being performed by people we would view as not yet adults -- young teenagers, and sometimes even workers younger than that. The companies argue that they do not always have either control or knowledge that such practices are going on, thus excusing
A utilitarian would argue that to ensure the greatest happiness, for the greatest number, perhaps some suffering in the interim must be endured by the current generation of factory laborers in the developing world, so that industrialization can develop and so capitalism can take hold there. Moreover, the ethical quandaries we experience are not merely relegated to clothing -- what of how we profit off of the labor illegal
Sweatshop Girl: Sadie Frowne In "The Story of a Sweatshop Girl," Sadie Frowne describes her life journey from peasant farmer's daughter to factory worker. Her description includes details of her daily life, and the difficulties she faces as a sweatshop girl in the early 20th century. Her narrative also illustrates prevalent social values of the time, as well as her individual values. Her focus on the specific details of her
The organization explains that consumers can take the initiative to speak out against companies that use sweatshops. (Ten Ways to end Sweatshops) They can also join campaigns such as OXFAM which attempt to ensure that special events such as the Olympics are not utilizing products created in sweatshops. Ten Ways to end Sweatshops) Conclusion The purpose of this paper was to discuss sweatshops, the impact that they have on the world and what
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