No child, of any age, neither in the first world nor
the third world, should have to tolerate such harsh labor. Yes, families may be
in dire need of financial help, but it is morally incorrect to deliberately place
a child in harm’s way. Children need not bear the burden of their family but be
able to enjoy their childhood, free of forced labor, unsanitary conditions, and
maltreatment. We, or the federal government, could prevent the occurrence of child
labor by requiring US companies to adhere to specific labor regulations and
frequently inspecting US owned factories that exist overseas, unannounced, to
ensure that they abide by the mandatory regulations. Child labor is not necessary
for underprivileged countries to survive, but child labor does in fact prevail because
we have and are allowing it to.
I thought the presentation was done very well. I remeber that in high school we too had to do a presentation of child labor and it was very sad and terrible to find out certain information. I think its unbelieavle the situation and continditions in which children are being put to work. Unfortunately their necesity is much greater than their well-being. I definately agree with Elizabeth Child labor continues and will continue iuntil we allow it, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteSweatshops and the unfair conditions that occur in them are a horrible tragedy. Most of America and other countries who accept products from these sweatshops are aware of the labor costs and the unfair conditions. Yet, despite this knowledge, they continue to purchase products from these places. Putting money into the factories and companies that have poor standards health and working conditions. The public needs to not only be aware, but be proactive. Something must be done and it has to start with the public and work its way into legislation. Our government must establish and enforce laws that will help improve labor conditions in other countries. If we were to put together a list of regulations that must be met in order to accept imports, other countries would have to abide or lose major business and revenue. Outsourcing is not the problem; it is the environment they work in.
ReplyDeleteRESPONSE TO GROUP 1 PRESENTATION
ReplyDeleteHow do we stop the children working in these conditions? It is ridiculous question that I have it when I watched the presentation. We knew that China is one of the biggest country has economic developed more than any other developing country in the world, but we also know that China is not fair in trading. So I think when Apple has the factory oversea, Apple can’t predict all the problems that the company has face in China. Apple can’t control the labor law and the employee’s benefits in China.
The poor condition in factory , the bath room and the place employee live, all give us a big picture that China is not really a developed economic like they said. Many Chinese has sacrificed their happiness, family and their childhood to exchange for the basic of the live that we see it is very easy in America. If we think we would like these people to have better condition in working environment, we need to do something. How to do it? it depend in each person and circumstances. I believed after taking this class, many of us will have more knowledge about the countries that we think it is rich but inside that country many problems and ethical issues has raise and need to resolve.
It is an unfortunate truth that child labor is still prevailing. I found the video heartbreaking when Jasmine stated that being a second child (and a girl at that)she felt somewhat responsible to provide for her family. The work hours she had to go through, or even any person at that had to go through is frightening and inhumane (8am-7pm with overtime till 2-3 am!)
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that these families are forced under these conditions to subject their children to these horrible labor conditions. However, the idea of whether or not these children are obligated would have to look at what the term obligated really means. The word obligated means to be forced under a sense of responsibility. Thus, in terms of these poverty-ridden countries, these children are obligated to endure these long hours in unhealthy conditions to help their families survive. It is difficult put ourselves in their shoes and just say what we believe about these circumstances since these conditions are so extreme. I believe that sweatshops and factories that use child labor are multiplying due to this generation’s attitude in commodity fetishism. This concept idea of want, want, want, has taken advantage of the traditional way of living by need. I recently read about America’s problem of wastefulness and taking the things we have for granted when people in these countries have to work in grueling conditions to make a dollar an hour. Less demand for these commodities or “things” such as iPhones would create less of need for corporations to seek out labor when people do not buy these commodities. It is also extremely sad to see that the cause of why they have to endure what they do on the job site is so that they can produce what the fortunate feel they need to represent their economic rank; when these people that are making them have nothing. Life's irony is truly heartbreaking.
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