Chinas Working Culture 2001

World Civilization

Final Assignment -China: -Items sold and made from sweatshops, as well as companies who exploit workers. -Timberland shoes -Wal-Mart / Kathie Lee handbags -Labor Law in China -Huffy bicycles -Alpine Car Stereos -New Balance Speakers -Nike -RCA TVs Abstract There are five major issues that connected with the Chinese trades with the US and the conditions surrounding the controversy of Chinese making American goods. 1. Wages 2. Spreading U.S. values 3. Womens rights 4. Hours and working conditions 5. Freedom of Association and the right to Organize These issues constitute the need for serious change in the world economic campaign headed by numerous countries and NATO. The process of the regulation of world trade and working conditions is going to be very long and we are in the baby stage now, with research that needs to be done. The first step is to find the problems, and China is the perfect place to begin. Wages: North American companies have moved abroad for the power of the almighty dollar, which in turn is the premise of greed. Greed ran this nations beginning and it will probably become its downfall if the large business community is not contained

All information is based on web information. Credit is granted towards the following web sites: *http://www.nlcnet.org/report00/table_of_contents.htm

with international law and international enforcement. Wages for these workers that are saving these companies billions in cheap labor are based on the GNP (Gross National Product) of that country. China has a low GNP and has a low living rate. These workers are receiving below what it would be needed to live even in poverty perspective, at twenty-five cents per hour, this is not even enough for a hotel room at the red carpet inn for a months worth of wages. The workers, is order to make a profitable income, are subjected to work over 17hrs a day-seven days per week. They are lucky if they receive one day off a month. Here are some statistics from the National Labor Committees web sight on how much it would cost the average worker to buy a few items by labor hrs:
A quart of milk: A liter of orange juice A Big Mac with fries and a Coke A movie A pair of Nike sneakers Mens new shoes One mans t-shirt A cheap, plain womans 2-piece outfit $0.82 $1.45 $1.93 $ 1.81 $81.93 $24.10 $ 2.41 $12.05 --over 2 hours wages --five hours wages --6 hours wages --over 6 hours wages --nearly 5 weeks wages --80 hours wages --7 hours wages --more than 40 hours wages

Spreading of US values: The spreading of US values in foreign cultures have been seen since the Christianity movement in the early ears of Americas beginnings, with the start of Christianize the world and non-dominate countries. This lead to rebellion and negative influence as seen through the people of these foreign countries and the hatered for American businesses began. Here we see the same rule but a different time period where the US businesses have tried to make a greater profit in the exploitation of the people. Chinas foreign exports constitutes over 40% of their GNP and if there is a shift in policy the US will become in peril with decisions of higher prices on merchandise or the

lowering of profit from these items, which results in the lowering of standards for most companies. Some companies, like Wal-Mart, have low prices for the average American and their families to afford. Most of their products are at cost or a little above and being a huge company there is a larger profit. The domain for these items are built at an average of less than 10$ per item. This constitutes a huge profit for the company. But is this what we want other countries to view as American values and the American way of life. Exploit other to gain from the rest. This is not what we should be considering as a great American heritage but the blackness that have covered the land in the blindness of greed. Womens Rights: I do not believe there is such a thing while living in the conditions described by the NLC, of course they have the right to receive low wages and less than adequate living conditions but I dont believe that they consider this to be beneficial. Women workers constitute over 80% of the work force and are highly sought after because they rarely talk back, have great stitching skills, and are less apt to rebel against any aggression. There are some rumors about women getting raped and abused, since they are weak and young (17-25yrs), they pose a great attraction to the employers. There are no womens right in accordance to what the American companies claim but hopefully this will change quickly. Hours and Working Conditions: The American companies claim that they have strict guidelines for the workers who work in these factories yet the hour range from 15-20 hrs per day with our a day off for months, this would all change if rates would go hire for the employees. It has come to my reasoning that the life for companies worker is quantity of the product, and the less the wage the more work and more product; Great for a Marxist society. The

conditions include over 100-degree heat and usually dealing with toxic chemicals that create a huge health problem. There is also no over time pay because it is not regulated (Like the workplace its self), as well as if you are late for work each minute is a docking of 1 hours worth of pay. Bathroom breaks are monitored as well as mealtime, if they even receive a meal. Freedom of Association and the right to organize: In the US the constitution guarantees the rights of the American people to assemble and organize for the benefit of the nation. China is a communist country that will throw you jail and probably kill you on the grounds of treason against the state. Therefore, there is no voice for the workers or they would be fired, imprisoned, and possibly executed for starting a revolution. This is an authoritarian way of the business controlling the countries income, which is well overlooked by the government while the money is poring into the country. Reforms: Reforms in the work place and conditions for the workers have just now become known to the world thanks to mass media and the Internet. China has just allowed the Internet into its country for its civilians, this has opened them up to the world and what the world it doing. Major organizations have become increasingly involved for the fight of rights and become the workers voice for the world outside there own country: The Christian Coalition, Jessie Jackson Ink, The NLC, as well as many others are a few of these liberation organizations. The job to complete this liberation is not a short one but in time and education the sweatshop will be only a history lesson.

The exploitation of the workers is a prime example an authoritarian rule over a country, and in these conditions the worker is the subject to these conditions. Revenge is a possible out come hear but with the right guidance a better life can result. Over time revolution will set in, it is in accordance with historical record (Germany, France, United States, Former USSR). Thus the people will become the voice and the rulers will become the silence. This concludes one major area of discussion, the result is forum and democracy is the evolution. The companies that are producing these goods imported into the US are creating a better business for the people in the US with cheaper prices on goods and cost effective management that reduces prices and labor costs. This is optimal for a business who can increase their net profit by lower labor cost and high product costs but keeping the product cost low for the American buyer. Exported sales receive tariff taxes on them and the company does not loose any profit from the product. In terms of the company, it raises the GNP for the US and keeps competition at a minimum from foreign countries. The rights and policy in the United States do not constitute the rights of the people outside the US, therefore there is no wrongdoing and people are given a service and a job where there once was no job. An income is still an income regardless of quantity of payment; this justifies lower cost for the growth of the nation. This is not a reasonable defense for the future because the future is historically reamed with revolution, which will result in the downfall of the business. If this occurs before reform takes place the US economy will crumble and we will become the silent authority.

Consumers are the blind effect of big business: Remember if you make it they will buy, make it cheaper and they will buy more of it. This is my conclusion of the big business and their quest for profit. The greed that has overcome the big business has trickled down to the American mainstream of the consumer. Greed is a powerful thing when you have the buck to buy a luxury. Credit cards have become the American companion on the spree to shop and there is no foundation for the virtual credit dept that most Americans find themselves in when they are done at the mall. A conscious for the consumer is blinded by this greed and as long it is, there is no sympathy for lower prices.