Asia can be considered the worlds textile backbone. This is due to labor being cheap compared to other places but it raises questions about the unethical practices in the factories. Many developing nations such as China use such practices to gain the highest amount of profict possible. Shenzhen is one notible places where young and uneducated workers migrate to get jobs. The working conditions are not ideal to say the least as the work days are 12 hours long taking up 6 to 7 days a week. On top of being overworked, safety is not a top priority in Shenzehn either. In chapter 20 of the textbook, the author points out that 32 workers were killed due to a crucible of molten steel was acidentally dumped on them. In light of the conditions in these factories places like Cambodia have set up labor regulations to protect its citizens and factory workers. Regulations in Cambodia aimed to "modernize there factories by regulating working conditions, capping a work day at 8 hours, no child labor, and maternity leave. In effect to this many companies have left Cambodia due to the rise in labor costs brought on by the regulations in place. However, areas such as South Korea, can be attractive with such regulations due to the high quality of their work. In chapter 21 the author points out that labor in South Korea costs more but the quality of the final product is much better. Nike looked at moving its production back to South Korea for this reason and due to the raw materials being readily available rather than being imported form somewhere else.
2 comments:
I did not know that Cambodia had labor regulations. It's good that some countries are aware of the conditions and safety of the workers. It's upsetting that not all countries can make changes into the labor laws. Nike being a billion dollar sports company, can't pay the workers at a reasonable cost.
It is important for companies to prioritize ethical practices and prioritize the welfare of their workers. Moving production to countries like South Korea, where labor regulations are in place and the quality of work is higher, can be a positive step towards ensuring a responsible supply chain. Ultimately, the focus should be on creating a sustainable and fair working environment for all individuals involved in the production process.
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