Hiding the Shame

I’m not making a bold prediction here as many believe that this is the inevitable -- China will take over the United States as the world’s economic superpower in 2020.

Many economists would second me on this. While many American businessmen have raised their eyebrows on the possibility that the United States will bow down to East Asia in the near future as far as trade is concerned, some may seem have already conceded to this emerging fact by putting up offices and plants in the region.

While I’m kind of glad to see that more nations are now getting a crack at prosperity, I’m quite saddened by persisting news that China is climbing the economic ladder by stepping on its people. What shocks me the most though, is that American companies are tolerating this! Shouldn’t every person, natural or artificial, in the United States condemn this kind of human exploitation?

Sweatshops still abound in many countries in the world, especially in developing ones. Some companies openly condemn child labor, but are setting up factories in places where the children are taken out of school and horded to factories.

I’m giving these companies the benefit of the doubt. A few weeks ago, Business Week ran a feature on how some countries are camouflaging human rights violations or sweatshops in order to entice foreign firms to tap their labor force. These companies should exercise due diligence in contracting with these outsourcing companies by checking court records if they have been charged for illegal labor practices. Economic progress should be synonymous with human progress. The former cannot and should not be made at the expense of the latter.