Exposing Sweatshops.

Sweatshop?

Term for a working environment which is dangerous or unacceptably difficult.

What is the Problem?

Sweatshops Around the World, 2008 Sweatshops Across the World, 2008 Long Hours Violates Child Labor Laws May be hazardous and subject to abuse

Conditions Crowded Poor Ventilation Rat Infestations Prone to Fires

What is being done to combat Sweatshops?

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 AdidasConverse Abercrombie & Fitch Victoria’s Secret Billabong

“ ( 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 China, Tricia Wang; Flickr.com (Creative Commons) Foxconn Factory in China Products Produced AppleMicrosoft Hewlett- Packard

Creative Commons

Fair Labor Association Foxconn Investigation Hours More than 60 hours/week Pay Unpaid overtime Low salaries ($360-$455 per month) Safety Health risks

Chinese workers threatened to commit suicide in January “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. Well despite laws in China, the country continually uses labor practices which would be illegal in Europe and the U.S. Do you love your cheap University T-Shirts?

April 14, 2012 Olympics 2012 chiefs concerned by Adidas 'sweatshop' AFP – Sat, Apr 14, 2012 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.” Flickr, Creative Commons

April 27 th, 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 Giving the public a sense of where their favorite products actually originate. exposed the Foxconn Protests New York Times BBC News CNN Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Huffington Post Fox News

“Companies could present a more transparent view of their supply chain” What Can Corporations Do?

What can you Do?

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 BusinessWeek “Background on Sweatshops,” DoSomething.org “Mass suicide' protest at Apple manufacturer Foxconn factory,” The Telegraph. asia/china/ /Mass-Suicide-Protest-at-Apple-Manufacturer-Foxconn- factory.html. “Foxconn Apple Factories Violated Chinese Labor Laws, According To Fair Labor Association,” Huffington Post. violations_n_ html. “Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China” “A Click on Clothes to Support Fair Trade,” New York Times. “Apple Supplier Foxconn Pledges to Improve Worker Conditions,” improve-worker-conditions. “Overseas Sweatshops are a U.S. Responsibility,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek. eats.html. “Apple Addresses Foxconn Factory Report,” BBC News. “Foxconn Workers Protest Wages, Threaten to Jump off Roof,” Huffington Post. violations_n_ html.

Spring 2012 Final Exam Communication Ethics Aubrey Bellezza