by John Hirschauer
Human rights violations are as necessary to the preservation of ruthless capitalism as savoir-faire management. Corporations parade around, profiting off of the ethically tainted products of sweatshop labor. It’s effortless for firms to hide these atrocities; many are uninformed or the consuming population doesn’t care. Potentially, it’s a combination of both.
A significant portion of America’s corporations cut corners to increase profit margins, a fact neither new nor surprising to the majority of consumer America. However, it’s often popular to have faith in the “inherent good” of executives. By and large, many blindly hope, management will stand up for human rights, even if it’s at the most marginal, basic level. This seeming common courtesy or fundamental respect of dignity is absent from many corporate agendas across the retail industry.
Reebok, a subsidiary of adidas, is no exception to what can only be defined as a corporate degradation of the human person. There is a remarkable discrepancy between Reebok’s purported human rights standards and the daily workplace reality. Reebok states that it “will seek business partners who share our commitment to the betterment of wage and benefit levels that address the basic needs of workers and their families so far as possible and appropriate in the light of national practices and conditions” (UMN 1). Workers at Reebok, however, have had an exceedingly difficult time seeing the manifestation of this ideal. Reebok pays, as a 2001-2002 China Labor Watch investigation discovers, some of the highest wages among Chinese shoe production houses, but those “high” wages don’t scratch the surface of Chinese minimum wage. Furthermore, “management is violating Chinese union law in appointing a president for the new union and not paying union fee”, which restricts these workers in the unionization process (China Labor Watch). Additionally, management, which comprises 5% of the total work force, is the only group of workers equipped with any form of insurance(CLW). The state of these workers hardly seems adequately representative of Reebok’s “deep, unbridled desire to make a positive impact and help those around [them]” (Adidas Group).
What is a company like Reebok to do? For that matter, what is any company to do when the competition is so willing to cut corners? Capitalism, in its most unbridled, unregulated state, harbors an environment of ethical disregard where the ends, in many cases, justify the means. The human is dismissed to increase profit, the soul discarded for a bonus, and autonomy sacrificed in the name of greed. Those who are willing to stand up to the moral implications involved in mistreating workers are going to pay the price, very dearly. Their price offerings will likely be less attractive than their competitors who abuse the person and the system. But they will be taking the high road, the path of integrity and faith, or solidarity and altruism. There is an irremovable place in society for those willing to stand in the face of evil. There will always need to be a first domino to ignite major change. But Reebok making employee welfare a priority could enact a (seemingly oxymoronic) compassionate brand of capitalism. More, it will surpass “capitalism”, or “free enterprise”. It has hit squarely on the most important social philosophy: humanism.
Bibliography
"Adidas Group-Reebok." Adidas Group. Adidas, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
“Ambition Makes a Difference." Adidas Group. Adidas, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
"Reebok International Ltd., Human Rights Production Standards." University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
"Reebok's Human Rights Standard and Chinese Workers' Working Conditions-Footwear." Reebok's Human Rights Standard and Chinese Workers' Working Conditions-Footwear. N.p., n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
Like what you read? Leave us your email or a message on the "Contact" page to recieve updates and give us feedback.
Human rights violations are as necessary to the preservation of ruthless capitalism as savoir-faire management. Corporations parade around, profiting off of the ethically tainted products of sweatshop labor. It’s effortless for firms to hide these atrocities; many are uninformed or the consuming population doesn’t care. Potentially, it’s a combination of both.
A significant portion of America’s corporations cut corners to increase profit margins, a fact neither new nor surprising to the majority of consumer America. However, it’s often popular to have faith in the “inherent good” of executives. By and large, many blindly hope, management will stand up for human rights, even if it’s at the most marginal, basic level. This seeming common courtesy or fundamental respect of dignity is absent from many corporate agendas across the retail industry.
Reebok, a subsidiary of adidas, is no exception to what can only be defined as a corporate degradation of the human person. There is a remarkable discrepancy between Reebok’s purported human rights standards and the daily workplace reality. Reebok states that it “will seek business partners who share our commitment to the betterment of wage and benefit levels that address the basic needs of workers and their families so far as possible and appropriate in the light of national practices and conditions” (UMN 1). Workers at Reebok, however, have had an exceedingly difficult time seeing the manifestation of this ideal. Reebok pays, as a 2001-2002 China Labor Watch investigation discovers, some of the highest wages among Chinese shoe production houses, but those “high” wages don’t scratch the surface of Chinese minimum wage. Furthermore, “management is violating Chinese union law in appointing a president for the new union and not paying union fee”, which restricts these workers in the unionization process (China Labor Watch). Additionally, management, which comprises 5% of the total work force, is the only group of workers equipped with any form of insurance(CLW). The state of these workers hardly seems adequately representative of Reebok’s “deep, unbridled desire to make a positive impact and help those around [them]” (Adidas Group).
What is a company like Reebok to do? For that matter, what is any company to do when the competition is so willing to cut corners? Capitalism, in its most unbridled, unregulated state, harbors an environment of ethical disregard where the ends, in many cases, justify the means. The human is dismissed to increase profit, the soul discarded for a bonus, and autonomy sacrificed in the name of greed. Those who are willing to stand up to the moral implications involved in mistreating workers are going to pay the price, very dearly. Their price offerings will likely be less attractive than their competitors who abuse the person and the system. But they will be taking the high road, the path of integrity and faith, or solidarity and altruism. There is an irremovable place in society for those willing to stand in the face of evil. There will always need to be a first domino to ignite major change. But Reebok making employee welfare a priority could enact a (seemingly oxymoronic) compassionate brand of capitalism. More, it will surpass “capitalism”, or “free enterprise”. It has hit squarely on the most important social philosophy: humanism.
Bibliography
"Adidas Group-Reebok." Adidas Group. Adidas, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
“Ambition Makes a Difference." Adidas Group. Adidas, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
"Reebok International Ltd., Human Rights Production Standards." University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota, n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
"Reebok's Human Rights Standard and Chinese Workers' Working Conditions-Footwear." Reebok's Human Rights Standard and Chinese Workers' Working Conditions-Footwear. N.p., n.d. Web. Dec.-Jan. 2013/2014.
Like what you read? Leave us your email or a message on the "Contact" page to recieve updates and give us feedback.