The Injustice Of Sweatshops

The Injustices of Sweatshops As a society we have lost the ability to appreciate the small and large conveniences we possess. No matter what circumstance one is in, there is a living and breathing being that has it far worse. Once one hits the “rock bottom” of their life then, their circumstances can only improve from that point. In the twenty-first century, “as the economy has becoming increasingly globalized … sweatshops produce a growing share of the consumer goods sold in developing countries” (“Sweatshops”). Large companies, that consumers supply, such as Disney and Sears, take those destitute for granted by setting sweatshops up in underdeveloped countries. These sweatshops degrade the workers into working excruciating hours in …show more content…
The staff are usually, “forbidden to speak out about their condition and are prevented from forming unions” (Proquest Staff) because companies fear that they may have to improve conditions, meaning more money would be needed to provide for the workers. These companies rely on these low quality working conditions to beat competitors with low prices while disregarding the people who work under these conditions. Nike, for example, a universal company, loved by hundreds of thousands, has sweatshops located across Asia that enforce child labor. Not only do the adults work long excruciating hours but so do the children. Both children and adults work an average of twelve to eighteen hours daily with little ventilation (“Sweatshops””). It is unlikely that these people will leave the life of poverty with these factories around because, ”child workers are denied an education” (Proquest Staff). If the children do not receive an education then obtaining a job that gives a higher wage is highly unlikely. Nobody would be willing to hire someone without a proper education. This leads many people to only one solution. Sweatshops. In many cases, “workers endure unhealthy and explosive conditions” (“Sweatshops”). These are factories that are willing to hire anyone who can work a machine, sew two fabrics together, or are willing to risk their lives to feed their …show more content…
On April 24, 2013, in Bangladesh, thousands lost their lives. Rana Plaza, a factory that that had employed 3,639 workers, collapsed, killing 1,137 people (“Rana Plaza”). Originally, the workers refused to enter the building after noticing large dangerous cracks in the walls, but the owner, Sohel Rana, paid gang members to physically beat the workers with large sticks until they entered. (“Rana Plaza”) Many of the workers had no choice but to enter because they were threatened to not get paid for a whole month. Since the workers get paid a lousy $0.12 to $0.22 an hour, they couldn’t afford to lose a month’s paycheck or else their families would starve. Almost eighty percent of the workers were young women from the ages eighteen to twenty, and the average, “shift was 13 to 14 ½ hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 or 10:30 p.m., toiling 90 to 100 hours a week with just two days off a month” (“Rana Plaza”). This shows the type of dedication a job like this needs. Does it make sense that people who work longer and harder get less recognition and less pay? The workers went in at 8:00 A.M; the power went out at 8:45 A.M. causing the factory’s five generators to turn on. It was at that moment when the workers felt the building start to shake and the building fall to the feet of world. About two thirds of the people were able to escape while the rest were buried with rubble