Wal-Mart and the use of Child and Slave Labour
By Karina Da Cruz
04/13/2016
Wal-mart is known for its affordable prices. However these prices often come at a high cost to humanity. Founded in 1962, Wal-Mart grew rapidly, reaching $1 billion in annual sales in 1980 and $100 billion annual sales in 1997. Today the company employs 2.2 million associates and has 11 thousand stores worldwide as well as a massive number of suppliers overseas (About us). The company is also undoubtedly known for its disrespect to their employees rights, not only in the US but also in foreign countries. It has been involved in slave and child labor for many years. Their commitment for low prices make suppliers search for cheap labor, and poverty will lead people to …show more content…
In 2014 an investigation was made and it was found that slave labor was being used in Thailand in the production of seafood sold by Walmart. “It was established that large numbers of men were being bought and sold like animals and held against their will on fishing boats. Men who have managed to escape from boats told The Guardian of horrific conditions, including 20-hour shifts, regular beatings, torture and execution-style killings. Some were at sea for years; some were regularly offered methamphetamines to keep them going. Some had seen fellow slaves murdered in front of them.” (Asian Slave Labour Producing Prawns for Supermarkets in US). In 2005, 15 workers from Bangladesh, Swaziland, Indonesia, China and Nicaragua sued Walmart for illegal working conditions. An article published by Reuters in 2005 reports among other forms of abuse that “In a Bangladeshi dress factory, a pregnant woman who paused on the production line was “kicked hard in her stomach'' by her supervisor” (Workers Sue Wal-Mart Over Sweatshop Conditions). These examples show how treatment differs slightly among factories that supply for Wal-Mart and how bad is Wal-Mart’s enforcement of their standards and rules. They opt to ignore the facts shown by investigations and maintain their business …show more content…
In an investigation made by Global Labour Rights, children were interviewed personally and reported being “routinely slapped and beaten, sometimes falling down from exhaustion, forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day, even some all-night, 19-to-20-hour shifts, often seven days a week, for wages as low as 6 ½ cents an hour” (Child Labor is Back). By doing this, factories are not only disrespecting human rights but also laws of their own country. In Bangladesh children under 14 cannot work, and if they’re between 14 and 17 they can only work up to 5 hours a day, 30 hours a week, besides not being permitted to work at night (Child Labor is Back). Sometimes children won’t tell their parents that they are being emotionally and physically abused for the fear of losing their jobs. They neither have access to education or playing time, and often when they’re home they will only perform house chores or take care of small siblings. Wal-Mart should commit to assist these children, but sadly they prefer to close their eyes to the situation and keep doing business with these cold-blooded
By Karina Da Cruz
04/13/2016
Wal-mart is known for its affordable prices. However these prices often come at a high cost to humanity. Founded in 1962, Wal-Mart grew rapidly, reaching $1 billion in annual sales in 1980 and $100 billion annual sales in 1997. Today the company employs 2.2 million associates and has 11 thousand stores worldwide as well as a massive number of suppliers overseas (About us). The company is also undoubtedly known for its disrespect to their employees rights, not only in the US but also in foreign countries. It has been involved in slave and child labor for many years. Their commitment for low prices make suppliers search for cheap labor, and poverty will lead people to …show more content…
In 2014 an investigation was made and it was found that slave labor was being used in Thailand in the production of seafood sold by Walmart. “It was established that large numbers of men were being bought and sold like animals and held against their will on fishing boats. Men who have managed to escape from boats told The Guardian of horrific conditions, including 20-hour shifts, regular beatings, torture and execution-style killings. Some were at sea for years; some were regularly offered methamphetamines to keep them going. Some had seen fellow slaves murdered in front of them.” (Asian Slave Labour Producing Prawns for Supermarkets in US). In 2005, 15 workers from Bangladesh, Swaziland, Indonesia, China and Nicaragua sued Walmart for illegal working conditions. An article published by Reuters in 2005 reports among other forms of abuse that “In a Bangladeshi dress factory, a pregnant woman who paused on the production line was “kicked hard in her stomach'' by her supervisor” (Workers Sue Wal-Mart Over Sweatshop Conditions). These examples show how treatment differs slightly among factories that supply for Wal-Mart and how bad is Wal-Mart’s enforcement of their standards and rules. They opt to ignore the facts shown by investigations and maintain their business …show more content…
In an investigation made by Global Labour Rights, children were interviewed personally and reported being “routinely slapped and beaten, sometimes falling down from exhaustion, forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day, even some all-night, 19-to-20-hour shifts, often seven days a week, for wages as low as 6 ½ cents an hour” (Child Labor is Back). By doing this, factories are not only disrespecting human rights but also laws of their own country. In Bangladesh children under 14 cannot work, and if they’re between 14 and 17 they can only work up to 5 hours a day, 30 hours a week, besides not being permitted to work at night (Child Labor is Back). Sometimes children won’t tell their parents that they are being emotionally and physically abused for the fear of losing their jobs. They neither have access to education or playing time, and often when they’re home they will only perform house chores or take care of small siblings. Wal-Mart should commit to assist these children, but sadly they prefer to close their eyes to the situation and keep doing business with these cold-blooded