IT firms take heat for 'sweatshop' labor

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This report looks like hogwash

"large numbers of workers were deprived of basic legal entitlements such as health, pension and employment benefits. "

I was unaware that health and pension benefits were considered basic legal entitlements. I always thought these were fringe benefits offered by employers to attract the best and brightest minds into their companies. Now this organization is trying to make these basic requirements of the workplace. Hogwash!

I know that conditions in third world countries are not up to the standards of the US or Britain. So what. In countries where people are starving for jobs, the availability of these jobs are a godsend. Organizations such as CAFOD are unwilling to accept one basic fact: Labor is a commodity whose price is determined by supply versus demand. There is an excess supply of labor available in these third world countries, therefore the price is lower.

I know that there are many out there who are going to criticize these companies for taking advantage of the poverty in those countries. But ask yourself which is better: No jobs offered at a higher wage or many jobs offered at the lower one. The people who live in those countries are glad to have a way of feeding their families.

Also note that the reports hits on many of the political left's favorite buzzwords: "using forced labor or child labor, imposing excessive working hours, or using harsh or inhumane treatment. It also failed to ensure that suppliers pay a living wage."

Can someone give me a working definition of a "living wage?" The report also refers to "forced labor" implying that there is some form of slavery being employed. How about harse and inhumane treatment? What types of treatment? Excessive working hours: how many and with what frequency? Let's just use vague terms to stir up the masses against the evil industrialists.

I seriously doubt all of the charges in this report from a British organization which points out the evil of three American companies. Are there no businesses based in GB that use similar outsourcing companies? This report is pure, unadulterated garbage!

Posted by: vferrara   Posted on: 01/27/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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