Nike Sweatshops

[Sudds3]

At school today we had a man come in and talm about how bad sweatshops were, and the conditions are terrible, but he said that all nike has to do is add a few dollars to their wages and then increase their products by about $5 each. With all of the economic benefits of cheap labor but bad conditions what is your stance on the issue?

[Quiddity]

To Nike: Don't get caught.
To the sweatshop workers: Don't work for 1/100th of a peso.

Edit to the OP:

Your stance?

[Korashk]

My stance is that, in general, sweatshops help boot the economies that they operate in and that any sort of effort to legally stop their operation is misguided because it would literally not help anyone, and only hurt the sweatshop workers and the entire communities that exist around them. You see, that pitiful wage that is paid by the sweatshop is typically enough to support a family in an area where a sweatshop exists, or at least better able to support a family than other options.

Now, say that sweatshop owners are now legally required to raise the wage that they pay their workers. Increased wage leads to increased cost that the owner would want to pass onto whomever hires them, be that Nike or another company. These companies now have a few choices to contemplate. They can accept the increase in costs, or move their business to an area without these laws/to where the laws increase costs the least. A company will almost always choose the second option.

The companies move on and the owner of the sweatshop has no ways to make money anymore so he closes the sweatshop. The very legislation designed to help people working in sweatshops has made them much worse off that they were when they were working for a dollar a day.

[Taryn98]

If someone doesn't like where they work or what they get paid, they can quit and get a different job. Some may say that's idealistic in foreign countries where jobs are scarce, but working at a job you hate or where they take advantage of you doesn't help your situation either.

People should be responsible and accountable for their selves. If people decide not to accept poor wages, then companies will have to think about what they need to change.

But I don't want to pay another $5 for Nike's so as far as I'm concerned, they can keep paying them jack squat.

[Harry Smith]

Sweatshops are just the bleak reality of life, if we had a magic wond they would not exist however they provide us with cheap goods. They offer people work, how could we stop these sweatshops, if the governments tried to force higher wages then companies like nike would simply re-base.

[Human]

They're wrong but a necessity really, as us who oppose them still buy products made in them.

[Cicero]

I'm sure everyone hates the conditions, but lets face it, most sweat shops help provide cheaper clothing. Imagine if Nike had to pay them minimum wage, their shoes would probably be sold for $100 more than they are.

I do think its wrong how Nike pays them so little, yet charge so much. Do you pay for the material also? Sure, I'm sure they use good fabrics, but definitely not the type of fabrics you'd expect to get with the price. The world is about money, if there is a cheaper way to do things, you will do it. Wal-Mart has taken the initiative to have random factory inspections to make sure the conditions are good, and if those factories don't pass. Then Wal-Mart stops buying from them, this is a huge, huge step for the major corporations.

The difference between Chinese workers and American workers is that in China, they appreciate the jobs they get and don't demand for more and more. America in general is very self-fish, the workers keep demanding for more and more. So it's obvious companies find it easier to have their operations in China. Barack Obama also isn't the biggest advocate for corporations, so obviously they'll want to ovoid the mandatory health care system and raising minimum wage. If we had a president that wanted to help both big and small business, then we may see some consideration for jobs coming back. I'm not saying that they will just pick up their operations and move to America. But up and coming businesses may be swayed to open operations here.

People like me buy Nike because of their brand, I just bought a pair of $120 Jordan shoes, why? Because it has Jordan on them. Because they're Jordan's. Was it stupid? Yep, but I'm not ashamed to admit it cause most everyone else is like me. 50% of my decision making for clothes or shoes is based off of the brand.

It's like people who buy Apple, most people buy it cause its Apple. I buy it because its Apple and I love their design and how easy it is to work with and use.

[Horizon]

I agree with most everyone. Sweats shops are beneficial, and i hope that no one is forced to work there. Which is another point. If they really don't like it there, they can just quit and find a better job with better working conditions and pay.

I don't really shop Nike, so the price increase wouldn't bother me either way. But if people still want that job, with more pay and better conditions, maybe their employers should listen.


The difference between Chinese workers and American workers is that in China, they appreciate the jobs they get and don't demand for more and more. America in general is very self-fish, the workers keep demanding for more and more.

I agree with that 100%. I have to work with people that complain about making only minimum wage, and working there is hard. It's really annoying when people do that because, your supervisor didn't have to hire you at all, so they should be more thankful like workers over in China. But hey, that is how most of America is raised.

[Cicero]

I agree with most everyone. Sweats shops are beneficial, and i hope that no one is forced to work there. Which is another point. If they really don't like it there, they can just quit and find a better job with better working conditions and pay.

I don't really shop Nike, so the price increase wouldn't bother me either way. But if people still want that job, with more pay and better conditions, maybe their employers should listen.




I agree with that 100%. I have to work with people that complain about making only minimum wage, and working there is hard. It's really annoying when people do that because, your supervisor didn't have to hire you at all, so they should be more thankful like workers over in China. But hey, that is how most of America is raised.

It's sad how they are like this, even in this economy. America has been raised as being spoiled, but I am too so I cant talk much (but I'm spoiled but I have also had jobs that I appreciate a lot)

[Horizon]

It's sad how they are like this, even in this economy. America has been raised as being spoiled, but I am too so I cant talk much (but I'm spoiled but I have also had jobs that I appreciate a lot)

me too. But I do have my job and I appreciate it more then anything really. I don't mind that I get paid minimum wage at this time. Sure, I'm gonna need more when I get out on my own, but I won't throw a fit if I don't get it.

[VladTheMir Gorgovich]

My opinion is that the sweatshop workers made the choice of working there, they were not forced to do so, and as such they should not complain about their mistake.... Is no one works in a sweatshop no goods are available to be sold as none are produced. Thus the choice is simple, higher expenses , or no production ?

[AbbaZabba]

I'm all about NO BIG BOX companies. I live in the country and into small business and American made, if you can even find that. All your big box companies outsource and have bad labor conditions.

[CharlieFinley]

My opinion is that the sweatshop workers made the choice of working there, they were not forced to do so, and as such they should not complain about their mistake.... Is no one works in a sweatshop no goods are available to be sold as none are produced. Thus the choice is simple, higher expenses , or no production ?
The choice between starving to death and almost starving to death by working sixteen-hour days is really no choice at all. That's why civilized countries have some combination of minimum wage laws or welfare.
I'm all about NO BIG BOX companies. I live in the country and into small business and American made, if you can even find that. All your big box companies outsource and have bad labor conditions.
You and no economists think that. America is transitioning to a service-based economy, because the vast majority of things that are outsourced to China were made by unskilled labor. America has collectively decided that it doesn't like the standard of living afforded by unskilled labor, and it does like the standard of living that buying things very cheaply makes possible.

[Korashk]

The choice between starving to death and almost starving to death by working sixteen-hour days is really no choice at all. That's why civilized countries have some combination of minimum wage laws or welfare.
This.

WTF is with all you people saying stuff like "they choose to work there" and "they can just quit if they don't like it". You don't seem to understand what living in a third world country is like. Sweatshops are absolutely terrible places to work in, but banning them won't solve the problem that is the below average level of development in their communities.

Sweatshops are BAD, but they're also necessary for both the companies AND the workers. Their necessity at the moment outweighs their horribleness in most cases, but that isn't grounds to be flippant about the subject.