Even though China Provides Cheap Labor, They Do It in Unethical Way - Term Paper Example

Country Background The location of sovereign China is East of Asia. Its international borders encompass fourteen sovereign states namely: Russia to the North East and Northwest; North Korea; India; Mongolia; Kazakhstan; Tajikistan; Afghanistan; Kyrgyzstan; Nepal; Pakistan; Bhutan; Vietnam; Burma; Macau; and Hong Kong. According to the 2011 census carried out in the country, the population is approximately 1.37 billion with 711.82 residing in urban setting while the rest reside in the rural. The highest population fall within the age bracket of 15-64 contributing to 62% while below the age contribute to 26% while the rest are 65 years of age and above. The country has a constitutional system of governance with political structure with the party in power currently being the Communist party. In 2013, the elected prime minister by the National people’s congress was Li Keqiang while Xi Jinping was elected the president. The derivation forms of laws in the country are traditionally rooted the due to the western influence; they also blend the western system of law with their traditional approaches. The country’s common laws are in form of published judicial convictions while the civil laws are in the form of codified statutes. Its economic system through various reforms has undergone a complete metamorphosis into a capitalist system. The capitalist system has initiated rapid economic growth since China has emerged as one of the strongest economies in the world. However, challenges such as inequality, poverty (especially in the rural area), low consumption by the local, pollution, and inefficiency in the sector of state has surfaced in this particular economic system. In addition, its GDP is approximately above 10 trillion dollars with purchasing power parity 17.8 million dollars. Apparently, China is one of the largest economies in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). The mineral reserves of the country are twelve percent of the world. Some of these minerals are iron, petroleum, Zinc, copper, molybdenum, tin, lead, coal, mercury, graphite, tungsten, manganese, antimony, and fluorspar. The country is one of the major exporters in the world economy. Some of the products for export are: computers, telephones, broadcasting instruments or equipment, integrated circuits, and parts of office machines. On the other hand, it imports petroleum, cars, iron, gold, and integrated circuits. It joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2010 and became one of its members. Besides the WTO, it is also a member of China-Australia Trade Agreement, ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, and China-South Korea Trade Agreement. The major currency of this country is Renminbi (RMB. The meaning associated with the renminbi is the people’s currency and a unit is referred to as Yuan. An equivalent of a dollar gives approximately 8.30 Yuan. The denomination of the currency is in 1, 2, 5, 50, and 100 Yuan. Several controversies have been level against Chinese government for manipulating the currency in the international market to have leverage in exportation of goods. They have been accused on several occasions for holding the dollar thus minimizing dollar supply as well as printing currency when their currency is not doing well in the market (China Today Para 1-10). Thesis Statement: Even though China provides cheap labor, they do it in unethical way. China’s cheap labor Clawson (149) explains that the growth of China economy can be attributed to not only the availability of cheap labor but also the presence of work force that is highly skilled. Its trained labor basket is so huge perhaps due to its large population. However, Bigelow (224) argues that the cost of labor has been rising steadily. This steady rise is due to the increase in the living standard which commensurate with the rapid increase in economic growth. In comparison to countries that are developed, the labor standards of China is relatively below per. International organizations have become conscious to by promoting international standards over the concern of conditions of workers. Roussopoulos (163) extrapolates that due to increasing competition in the business climate, companies resort to move to countries that are perceived to be having low wages as well as taxes. Despite the fact that this has lead to increase in employment, these workers tend to earn less than the internationally recognized standards. Countries whose wages and taxes are below per are usually associated with sweatshops, child, labor, and poor health for the workers. China has been a culprit of child labor slavery. Megan (Para 5) highlights that some children have been subjected to sweatshops which is characterized by exploitation; absence of wages and benefits; poor as well conditions of work being dangerous. They don’t have the leverage of saving for future needs and the trend seems to be in form of a cycle. The political system of the country in discussion hampers acquisition of information concerning this challenge. David (Para 3) vindicates that the situation has been precipitated by little presence of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) while the foreign bodies in the country don’t have access to the information. It is for these reasons why it has proved to be a hard nut to crack in the determination of how the government enacts and enforces laws in regard to child labor. Moreover, it is also proving to be difficult for NGO to help assist in this malady. However, observers reveal that the trend of child laboring is fast increasing in the country. Perhaps, the increasing cases of children dropping out of school and quick expansion in investment in foreign countries are the major contributors to the malady (Child Labor Bulletin Para 1-6). Even though no industry or company has been pointed out for perpetuating this heinous act, an official from labor ministry brought to light that child employment has become a serious concern in China. Apparently, child labor exploitation is almost developing into a natural phenomenon. Reports illuminate that in the coastal areas such as Fugin roughly about 5 million child labor cases are under the age of sixteen while Whenzhou the children involved in labor are as young as below 12 years. Unfortunately, these children work for longer period of time (about 10 to 14 hours a day) and are paid half of the wages that adults are paid. Bill (Para 5) illuminates that Shenzhen region of the country is an evident example where children girls inclusive who are below sixteen years work in factors especially those that are foreign owned. Children work in dangerous hazardous ventures such as fireworks industry (Tania Para 4). In Hebei, there was a case of a child and several other children injured between the ages of 10 to 13 from an explosion from a firework industry. There were also reports of children working in textile and garment companies. The fight against child labor has always been hampered in this country since the companies that employ children use counterfeit IDs while other workers confess that at the time of their employment they were 3 to 4 years younger the years that had been inscribed in their Ideas. However, WTO which the country China subscribes to strongly condemns and abhors child labor and sweatshops as one of its trade policies (China Daily Para 5). Conclusion There have been reports of child labor in most factories or industries in China especially those that are foreign owned. Moreover, despite the children’s tender age some of them have been involved in not only dangerous jobs but also in hazardous conditions. Consequently, these have resulted into the witness decrease in number of school attending children. The true picture of the situation however cannot be verified due to lack of information since the presence of NGOs and foreign international body are not privy to information concerning the malady that requires immediate diagnosis using the appropriate antibiotic. China being a member of the WTO should seek to enforce laws that restrict not only child labor but also sweat shopping in order to conform to WTO trade policies. Even though China provides cheap labor, they do it in unethical way. Work Cited: Bigelow, Bill. Rethinking Our Classrooms: Teaching for Equity and Justice. Milwaukee, WI: Rethinking Schools, 1994. Print. Bill, Tarrant. Child Labor Scandal highlights worrying Trend in China. 2014. Web on 3rd April 2015 < http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=0b4914b1-0e34-4a56-bc55-ebbcd35c0721> China Daily. Dongguan factory embroiled in child labor scandal. 2014. Web on 3rd April 2015< http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-07/04/content_17649004.htm> China Today. General Information on the People’s Republic of China. 2015. Web on 3rd 2015 < http://www.chinatoday.com/general/china-general-information.htm> Chinese Labor Bulletin. Chinese media uncovers another case of child labour trafficking in Shenzhen. 2013. Web on 3rd April 2015< http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/chinese-media-uncovers-another-case-child-labour-trafficking-shenzhen> Clawson, Dan. The Next Upsurge: Labor and the New Social Movements. Ithaca, N.Y. ; London: ILR Press, 2003. Print. David, Barboza. In Chinese Factories, Lost Finger and Low Pay. 2008. Web on 3rd April 2015< http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/worldbusiness/05sweatshop.html?;&_r=0 Megan, Grau. Child Slave Labor in China. 2015. Web on 3rd April 2015< http://ihscslnews.org/view_article.php?id=57> Roussopoulos, Dimitrios I. The New Left: Legacy and Continuit. Montréal, Quebec [u.a.: Black Rose, 2007. Print. Tania, Branigan. 167 Children Rescued in China Child Labor Crackdown. 2008. Web on 3rd April 2015 < http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/30/china1 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/30/china1> Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More