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Exposing Sweatshops. Term for a working environment which is dangerous or unacceptably difficult. What is the Problem?. Violates Child Labor Laws. Long Hours. May be hazardous and subject to abuse. Sweatshops Around the World, 2008 Sweatshops Across the World, 2008.
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Term for a working environment which is dangerous or unacceptably difficult.
Violates Child Labor Laws Long Hours May be hazardous and subject to abuse Sweatshops Around the World, 2008 Sweatshops Across the World, 2008
U.S. Law An employer that violates more than one federal or state labor law governing minimum wage and overtime, child labor, occupational safety and health.
Chinese Labor Contract Law Effective January 2008; Meant to protect workers from companies on the issue of pay, overtime, health and safety practices and to create fair and safe practices for Chinese workers.
Exposing Corporations http://www.thejournal.ie/60-big-name-brands-continuing-to-use-sweatshop-labour-130318-May2011/
“(corporations)routinely break every rule in the book when it comes to labor rights. A huge number of high street chains and sporting goods retailers...”
Because of investigative journalism, injustices are revealed. They ask the tough questions. They connect developed nations with the source. Journalists have the ability to tell the “Little Guy’s” story and expose the unjust practices of multinational corporations.
Foxconn Factory in China 1.2 million workers Foxconn China, Tricia Wang; Flickr.com (Creative Commons)
150 Chinese workers threatened to commit suicide in January 2012. “Foxconn Resolves a Dispute With Some Workers in China” – NY Times January 2012
Anti-Foxconn Protest in Taiwan, Courtesy of Creative Commons Image by ttstam/Flickr, under Creative Commons
What was fixed? Working hours adjusted to Chinese legal limit of 49 hours/week 25% increase in pay
“The report will include new promises made by Apple that stand just as empty as the ones made over the past five years” – SumOfUs.org
What about 2012? Do you love your iphone? We all do. Do you love your cheap University T-Shirts? Well despite laws in China, the country continually uses labor practices which would be illegal in Europe and the U.S.
April 14, 2012 Flickr, Creative Commons Accusations of sweatshop use in the production of LONDON 2012 team uniforms sparked controversy "We have spoken to Adidas and they have assured us that they are investigating these allegations, the conclusions of which will be made public.” Olympics 2012 chiefs concerned by Adidas 'sweatshop' AFP – Sat, Apr 14, 2012
April 27th, 2012 A number of Foxconn Workers protested despite alleged changes made to salary and working conditions Creative Commons
GLOBALIZATION Has changed the “game” in production
In 2012, Journalists from Fox News New York Times BBC News CNN and Huffington Post Bloomberg BusinessWeek exposed the Foxconn Protests Giving the public a sense of where their favorite products actually originate.
What Can Corporations Do? “Companies could present a more transparent view of their supply chain”
Try and Buy Fair Trade “exercise due diligence when buying from any company that makes fair-trade claims. The willingness of Fair Indigo, American Apparel and others to disclose their practices on the Web could help” – NY Times
Sources “Secrets, Lies, and Sweatshops,” Bloomberg BusinessWeekhttp://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_48/b4011001.htm. “Background on Sweatshops,” DoSomething.org http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/background-sweatshops “Mass suicide' protest at Apple manufacturer Foxconn factory,” The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/ asia/china/9006988/Mass-Suicide-Protest-at-Apple-Manufacturer-Foxconn-factory.html. “Foxconn Apple Factories Violated Chinese Labor Laws, According To Fair Labor Association,” Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/foxconn-apple-factories-labor-violations_n_1389392.html. “Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China”http://en.cnci.gov.cn/Law/LawDetails.aspx?ID=6079&p=1. “A Click on Clothes to Support Fair Trade,” New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/technology/25ecom.html?pagewanted=all. “Apple Supplier Foxconn Pledges to Improve Worker Conditions,” http://www.neontommy.com/news/2012/03/apple-supplier-foxconn-pledges-improve-worker-conditions. “Overseas Sweatshops are a U.S. Responsibility,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek. http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2007/06/overseas_sweats.html. “Apple Addresses Foxconn Factory Report,” BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17557630. “Foxconn Workers Protest Wages, Threaten to Jump off Roof,” HuffingtonPost. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/foxconn-apple-factories-labor-violations_n_1389392.html.