Linked by David Adams on Wed 17th Dec 2008 17:15 UTC, submitted by Michael
In a muckraking Spiegel.de article, suppliers to well-known computer manufacturers are accused of mistreating workers and violating Chinese labor law: "According to a Hong-Kong based human rights organization, working hours total up to 370 hours per month, workers aren't receiving the legal minimum wage and in the run-up to Christmas, days off are cut out entirely." One of the reasons that high tech hardware has become so widespread and useful is because it's so inexpensive. As this article demonstrates, this affordability can come at a price.
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Member since:
2005-07-26
By buying something from these countries or practicing our usual over-consumption, we silently ignore the problems and participate in the acceptance of poor working conditions.
China (government and companies) isn't stupid. If it turns out that Western consumers don't want their products because they mistreat their workers, then China will act in one way or the other... I'm not being naive. You are, by stating that we're basically just helping their economy. We've been 'helping' foreign economies grow ever since Columbus.
So go and consume wisely, vote wisely and do whatever other duty that's implied by your world citizenship.