Slave Labor

Globalization, and the system of subcontracting, has turned countless women from Asian countries into slave laborers. Major western corporations involved in the garment industry rely on cheap women labor from Asian countries, which they receive through offshore contracts. These subcontractors, in the interest of making and saving money, put women to work for extremely long hours and under unspeakable working conditions, to the extent where it is a blatant violation of their human rights. No adequate global governance exists to keep businesses and subcontractors from abusing laborers the way certain domestic governments check business practices to ensure labor abuse is not rampant within its borders. Today, a social accountability contract exists where businesses, using non-governmental organizations, are expected to self-regulate themselves to ensure laborers are not being abused. This organization is inadequate, given the company’s motivation to maintain cheap labor, by claiming they are not responsible for offshore working conditions. Fortunately, consumer pressures have forced big business to ensure the improvement of offshore labor conditions, yet much improvement is still needed.



Nike Inc. is a prime example of a major business entity having a reputation for exploiting slave labor, but it is now making attempts to reverse its practices. Nike is an industry leader that has tolerated the use of slave labor in countries like China, Indonesia, and Vietnam to produce its sports apparel. In 2006 Nike made $15 billion in revenue according to money.cnn.com. Meanwhile, the average Indonesian laborer making Nike products makes $1.25 a day. In China, Nike has admitted to finding falsified documents, underage workers, and unpaid laborers. Workers in numerous Asian countries are coerced into working 16 hour shifts, 7 days a week and under horrific conditions that include verbal and physical abuse, and limited access to water and bathrooms. Exploitation of child labor is also not uncommon, as they can be forced to work longer hours and for cheaper wages. Nike, making use of subcontractors abroad, claimed to have no control over the treatment, wages, and working conditions of these laborers.



Numerous human rights non-governmental organizations and media outlets have brought these abuses to light creating an outrage. Fearing a consumer backlash, Nike was forced to quit turning a blind eye to these labor practices. Wages have increased and working conditions have improved since. Before the Beijing Olympics, when Chinese practices would be most scrutinized, Nike made efforts to get suppliers to comply with the company's code of conduct as well as Chinese law. They have initiated a program to document their workers and ensure none are underage. Still, a considerable amount of work is yet to be done. Countless other companies still take advantage of slave labor, and even those industry leaders that are attempting to clean up their act have only just begun the process.

Sblaw