Globalisation is expanding – with all the advantages and disadvantages coming along
with it. There are winners as well as losers and the GAP™ between these two parties
is getting bigger and bigger. The global players in this world are the ones that take
most advantage of this development by exploiting both – nature as well as
individuals.
In order to get bigger and increase profits, companies make use of all possible
means and it seems that ethical standards have not been existing for years. From
child labour or illegal medical tests to financing wars in developing countries, thus
causing the deaths of numerous people – the range of opportunities to reach the
objective is quite large.
This dissertation will show the real face of several well-known companies that are
generally well-reputed, although this is definitively not justified in view of their
background activities.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sweatshops – unlocking the power of poverty
2.1 What is a sweatshop?
2.2 Made in Saipan USA!
2.3 Working conditions
2.4 Sexual harassment
2.5 Exploitation Ltd.
2.6 No fairy-tale
2.7 Safety conditions
2.8 Code of Conduct – ray of hope?
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This dissertation examines the systemic exploitation of labor within the global garment industry, focusing on how major multinational corporations leverage poverty and weak regulatory frameworks to maximize profits at the expense of human rights and safety standards.
- The prevalence and definition of modern sweatshop labor.
- Case studies regarding working conditions and human rights abuses in Saipan, Indonesia, and other production hubs.
- The role of corporate responsibility and the limitations of voluntary Codes of Conduct.
- The relationship between global brand marketing and the reality of factory-floor production.
- Potential economic interventions to ensure livable wages for garment workers.
Excerpt from the Book
Made in Saipan USA!
Saipan is the main Island of a chain of fourteen islands in the Pacific Ocean, known as the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. After World War II, the U. S. won control of the Marianas from Japan.
Because of the Marianas´ limited economic base, the U. S. delegated the control of minimum wage and immigration laws to the government of the Marianas. Furthermore they made sure that imports of products into the U.S. were duty free without any quota restrictions. Experts estimate, that contractors and U.S. retailers avoided to pay more than $200 million of duties for $1 billion worth of garments shipped from Saipan.
Doubtless, the main reason for this large amount are the conditions existing on the Marianas. Over 90 % of garment industry jobs in the Marianas are held by foreign “guest workers”, predominantly young women from China, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Thailand. These workers are promised high wages and qualified jobs in the USA, and therefore they agree to repay recruitment fees from $2,000 to $7,000. After signing the job contract they confidently arrive on Saipan, where, in some cases, they have to deposit their passports and identity cards in order to prevent them from going back. The majority of workers arrive on Saipan deeply in debt and therefore they have to accept to be treated like slaves.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the widening gap between the winners and losers of globalization and presents the dissertation's goal to expose the actual labor practices of reputable companies.
Sweatshops – unlocking the power of poverty: Analyzes the systemic nature of sweatshops and how companies exploit poverty-stricken regions to minimize production costs.
What is a sweatshop?: Provides a definition based on labor law violations and describes the harsh reality of modern factory conditions.
Made in Saipan USA!: Investigates the specific exploitation of "guest workers" on Saipan, where legal loopholes allow for forced labor and debt bondage.
Working conditions: Details the inhumane environment in factories, including extreme heat, lack of ventilation, and restrictions on basic human needs.
Sexual harassment: Documents specific instances of systemic humiliation and abuse faced by female workers in the garment supply chain.
Exploitation Ltd.: Discusses how global players offload responsibility for labor standards onto contracted manufacturers while dictating production prices.
No fairy-tale: Shares a harrowing personal account of a young worker in a Chinese factory contracted by Walt Disney.
Safety conditions: Examines tragic industrial accidents caused by blocked exits and inadequate safety measures in factories producing for international brands.
Code of Conduct – ray of hope?: Critiques the effectiveness of corporate Codes of Conduct, arguing they often serve only to improve public image while failing to protect workers.
Conclusion: Summarizes the difficulty of abolishing labor abuse and suggests that reallocating marketing budgets could provide livable wages for workers.
Keywords
Globalization, Sweatshops, Human Rights, Labor Laws, Exploitation, Garment Industry, Corporate Responsibility, Minimum Wage, Saipan, Child Labor, Sexual Harassment, Supply Chain, Codes of Conduct, Poverty, Fair Wages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation focuses on the unethical labor practices utilized by global garment corporations, specifically highlighting how they exploit poverty and regulatory loopholes to increase profit margins.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The study covers themes including the definition of sweatshops, the reality of working conditions for garment workers, the systemic abuse of labor laws, and the limitations of corporate Codes of Conduct.
What is the core objective of the work?
The primary objective is to reveal the "real face" of well-known international brands by contrasting their positive public image with the documented human rights violations occurring in their supply chains.
Which methodology is used to evaluate the subject?
The research relies on an analysis of documented labor abuses, industry case studies from locations like Saipan and Indonesia, and reports on corporate economic policies.
What does the main body of the text address?
It provides a comprehensive look at how factories operate under conditions of forced overtime, safety hazards, and worker intimidation to serve the needs of global retailers.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Globalization, Sweatshops, Exploitation, Human Rights, and Corporate Responsibility.
How do "Codes of Conduct" actually affect the workers?
According to the author, these codes are largely ineffective for workers and often lead to worse situations, as the costs for mandated safety improvements are deducted directly from the workers' already meager wages.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding potential solutions?
The author argues that while abolishing abuse is difficult, redirecting a small percentage of corporate advertising budgets toward worker salaries could significantly improve the quality of life for millions of garment workers.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Scheling (Author), 2002, Global Players - their abuse of power, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/22594
