International Sweatshops

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the issue of international sweatshops, particularly in China. It will also look at how to control or eliminate these sweatshops. The paper mentions some of the companies that use sweatshops and the actual conditions in which the employees must work. Also examined are the critics of the sweatshops and the attention they bring to the issue and the reforms they are attempting to institute. The author also considers the problems associated with establishing standards in the sweatshops, especially regarding wages and working conditions. The author concludes with suggestions for developing these standards.

From the Paper:

"In China, the government suppresses any union activity, thereby ensuring these companies of workers who will make no demands of their employers (Maitland, DATE, p. 584). These companies are not only supporting poor working conditions for their workers and families, they are contributing to the economy of a government that suppresses and represses its people. However, Chinese workers are not the only workers who have to endure terrible conditions. Authors Arnold and Bowie continue about shops in El Salvador, "In the majority of companies, it is an obligation of the personnel to work overtime under the threat of firing or some other kind of reprisal" (Arnold and Bowie, DATE, 597). In Mexico, a 26-year-old worker notes, "I start out the shift okay, but after about three hours of work, I feel a lot of sharp pains in my fingers. It gets so bad that I can't hold the steering wheel correctly. But still the supervisors keep pressuring me to reach 100 percent of my production" (Arnold and Bowie, DATE, p. 597). Thus, workers face conditions that few American workers would stand for, but they have no rights and no recourse to change the situation."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Arnold, D. G. and Bowie, N. E. Sweatshops and respect for persons. Ethical issues in international business. 591-604.
• Maintland, J. The great non-debate over international sweatshops. Ethical issues in international business. 579-589.
• Rivoli, P. (2001). Labor standards in the global economy: Issues for investors. The ethics of globalization. 535-545.

More papers on International Sweatshops:

• Essay # 7832 : "Levi Strauss Sweatshops"
• Term Paper # 4873 : "Globalization and Labor Conditions in the Third World."
• Case Study # 111329 : "Corporate Social Responsibility"

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