The news reports about the Samsung, and Apple factories are stomach
twisting. It makes me feel like a cannibal. We are literally consuming these
people for our own gain: “Wang Ling's… was the 15th Foxconn employee
reported to have committed suicide since the beginning of 2010”
(Garside). Although these facts are heart wrenching, these conditions are being
brought to the light, which means hope is on its way.
These reports remind
me of the conditions in early 17th century American factories. A historical website declares, “Children
as young as six years old during the industrial revolution worked hard hours
for little or no pay. Children sometimes worked up to 19 hours a day, with a
one-hour total break… They were in horrible conditions. Large, heavy, and
dangerous equipment was very common for children to be using or working near.
Many accidents occurred [causing] injur[ies] [and] kill[ed] children on the job”
(Galenet). In 2012 two articles were published that noted uncanny parallels
concerning factories today. They explained that “46% of the workforce clocked up to 70 hours per
week” that ” 43%
of workers reported experiencing or witnessing an accident”, and that “health and safety breaches found by
auditors …included blocked exits, lack of or faulty personal protective
equipment and missing permits” (Garside).
Four centuries later, and we still have these working conditions!
I really do
believe that I could pledge today to stop using products such as the iphone;
however, I think in a desperate act to demand change I would hurt the same
people I was trying to help. The most
disturbing part of this report was that “a third of employees surveyed wanted
to work more hours so that they could earn more, and half felt their hours were
reasonable” (Garside). These people want to work, and if I were to boycott
their products, I would be denying them their will. So what do we do to help?
The fact that there are being articles published, and blogs
posted about this issue means that people are becoming more, and more aware of
what is happening. Awareness is the first step to resolution. If no one knows what is happening, then no
one can react to what is happening. Eventually
in American history the Factory Act was passed. In the same way, Chinese laws
will be passed, and enforced. Although it took longer than anyone would have
liked, “ Apple [has] recognized the
need for independent audits and appointed… [the] Fair Labour Association… to
clean up the garment trade, [and] is now turning its attention for the first
time to the electronics industry “ (Garside).
samsung-factories
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