Question

You are the son (or daughter) of the CEO of a small manufacturing company that produces running clothes. Your mother struggled to build the company, and it is just now starting to be profitable in a very competitive field. In fact, you know it was a sacrifice for her to give you this trip to China as a graduation gift. She has asked you to meet with the head of the company that is producing 40 percent of the goods she markets to be sure that they are meeting her specifications for next season’s product. When you get there, you find that “sweatshop” is too kind a description for the plant. There are very young-looking children working in the factory, some workers are being physically abused by the supervisors, and the plant is filthy and full of textile dust. But the merchandise looks great!

(a) What do you say to the head of the company in China?

(b) What do you tell your mom?

(c) What should you do?

(d) Are workers who live in poverty better off with sweatshop jobs than no jobs at all?

Answer 1

(a) What do you say to the head of the company in China?

It would be a criminal offence to employ child laborers and to employ workers who are being physically or mentally harassed.

It would be the duty to not only give a warning to the head but also to notify the authorities.

(b) What do you tell your mom?

Understand if she's aware of the conditions in which the workers are being treated.

Immediately cancel the contract with the supplier and register a formal complaint in the requisite forums.

(c) What should you do?

Not be a party to such unethical / illegal business practices.

Ensure the relevant authorities are notified

Ensure and follow on the matter.

Communicate to human rights authorities so that the workers and especially the children are rehabilitated.

(d) Are workers who live in poverty better off with sweatshop jobs than no jobs at all?

No, that would not be any justification

If someone is not having the adequate skill levels to manage their job situation they need to handle it by outsourcing some of the work.

They need to be given a universal basic income for sustenance, beyond which they can seek adequate employment out of self motivation and not coercion.