by Russel Norman
Interesting article in the Sunday Star Times (reprinted from the Sunday Times in London) about the working conditions in a factories making adidas shoes in China. This is what they found:
- China’s labour laws are routinely violated. The govt may sign up to new labour laws but it doesn’t mean much for the workers in the factories.
- Management routinely cheats the workers on pay.
- The factory discriminates against young men because of their role in leading a strike in 2006.
- The union leaders were supposed to be democratically elected under the govt’s labour laws but were appointed.
- Workers are paid a minimum wage so low ($103 per month) that the China Labour Bulletin described it as not a living wage. This is why some workers are forced to work over 70 hours a week.
- Across China, govt officials are warning labour activists not to speak to foreign reporters or they will be imprisoned.
In spite of reported statements to the contrary from some sections of the NZ union movement, it seems things aren’t great for workers and non-govt unionists in China.
Published in Environment & Resource Management by Russel Norman on Sun, April 6th, 2008
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Workers are also being corrupted in China with cash? shows my philosophy was right in first place ..Capital Authoritarianism is infact Capitalism……..In olden India there were are big city’s where prosperous people mail all the aid and poor go get a free life ……………………..so even the olden rich [senior] retire to die amongst the free by every virtue life……………………………………
My best regards to Party Boss David and toad,mayreen.extrava and richbear and phonebilly ,eaglebeagle,saint and all greeen friends in nz
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So how would sending China less money improve their lot?
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# jh Says:
April 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
A silent revolution has been taking place in China. Somehow, without anyone noticing, the capitalists have upended the People’s Republic. Over the past few years, they have effected a significant redistribution of income away from workers. This might well be the mother of all redistributions.
http://www.petersoninstitute.org/publications/opeds/oped.cfm?ResearchID=885
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Maybe we should have built in the right of the New Zealand companies to offer union services to their workers – for an “agents” cut of the negotiated wage increases. It would not have to be that big a fee in such a large labour market to offer good profit growth potential …
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Well, it seems as if China’s on the fast-track way to a social revolution. I can see all the signs. From the previous (and current) small “uprisings” we see that force is definitely a factor. So China brace yourselves you will have a tough time ahead of you.
No trade-whatever is going to change that. China’s in a far too powerful position as to let other countries (that are dependent on China) influence their decision making. And for politicians it’s a far too sensitive subject (especially in an election year).
Whatever we do as consumer will probably only harm the already downtrodden. Boycotts of Chinese goods will cause people to loose jobs. Buying Chinese goods keeps them employed but supports the regime and rampant capitalism.
Another one of those things where a change in any direction is probably a bad idea.
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