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:2005-12-02
"What a naive and ridiculous comment. You clearly have no understanding of the breadth and depth of the human rights violations that occur in China."
You're right, I do not have a clue on it, as I do not live there. What I do know is that most of the factories and such are government run. What I do know is that it is a way of life for them. Don't forget either if you really want to do something, get rid of your credit cards and bank accounts. Some of the biggest banks are owned/run by Chinese interests, at least in the US. Human Rights violations appear everywhere sadly. If you feel that strongly then by all means petition the Government of China to stop doing it.
Member since:2006-03-30
As I said in my very first post in this thread, I am first on the list of people who's lifestyle supports this kind of stuff. I'm probably wearing a couple things made in China, and you're right about my credit cards, etc...
My point is that, first, when we read a story like this our reaction shouldn't be something as ignorant as "Shit Happens" and "Let them strike or get a new job if they don't like it". That is ridiculous, that is naive, and it is insulting to them. My second point would be that Western governments shouldn't tolerate this kind of stuff from China, and we should all be doing everything we can to see it stopped. But we don't, and we won't, cause we want cheap crap. So we say, as you have, Oh how sad this is, but it happens everywhere, nothing I can do about it, and that's wrong.
Member since:2005-09-14
Member since:
2006-03-30
Hahahaha, strikes and stuff. Thats hilarious. Strikes only work if they're allowed, and if you can afford to survive a day without the pay, and if there aren't an army of other people willing to take the job 'cause they're starving too. What a naive and ridiculous comment. You clearly have no understanding of the breadth and depth of the human rights violations that occur in China. Probably because most of the West has decided to ignore it so we can keep buying cheap crap.