Would you buy cheap child-sweatshop made clothes? Poll results/discussion

teddyco

I think our world has come a long way since the industrial revolution first started in Britain and America in the 19th Century. Our ancestors worked their children for 12 hours per day in the coal mines and cotton mills of the north, and I am grateful that we don't have to work those hours ourselves.

On one hand we complain that jobs are heading to China, Indonesia and Central America, but then on the other we don't like the poverty and lack of jobs in those countries, and we can't have it both ways.

Many folks on this website will remember when things made in China and Japan were synonymous with 'junk'. However, today Japan and China are leading the world with manufacturing and soon they will surpass our technology too.

But many will remember that it was the Marshall Plan after WW2 that poured billions into the economies of Europe and Japan and helped give them the technology that they are now using to compete with our economy. In the end, it makes for good business and it will even itself out eventually........don't worry, it will, you'll see.

I foresee a day when there will be a world organization that will regulate work hours and prohibit child labour, but this too will take time as Third World Countries embrace new jobs and industry coming into their area.

How ironic that we all benefit from this nasty thing called 'capitalism', but this is what is currently helping to solve a lot of the problems in these Third World areas. Contrary to what you hear on the news, capitalism creates jobs which generate revenue, which calls for better schools, clean drinking water, etc., etc.

People like Bill Gates of Microsoft and Warren Buffet have teamed up to spend billions to improve conditions in Africa and there are many other kind hearted entrepreneurs who are taking their capitalist earnings and making a real difference. But again, it's a slow process but one that will reap rewards in time.

I would love to snap my fingers and watch factories, schools, hospitals and clean drinking water fall from the skies into these areas, but it's a slow process and there has to be an incentive for a corporation to move to that area. Unfortunately, slave wages and child labour is the incentive that brings those factories that eventually lifts an area out of poverty.

leonie08

MORPH3US wrote: »

From my POV, just as I would love to buy free-range chicken and organic veg, I would love to buy ethically produced clothes, but I simply cannot afford it.....

So i'm affraid that I will continue to buy from Primark.

To be fair to them though, they have taken action on this anyway so good on them.

It is our responsibility as consumers to ensure that people arnet treated badly all over the world to give us cheap products. We are all very rich in this country compared to people in developing countries. These are real people! real people and children like you and me! How dare we turn a blind eye to the suffering we are causing with our greed and demand for redicilously cheap products.

Buy from Primark ? NO WAY! I have two children, and do not have a high income but my children are always well fed, clean and warm. They are well dresses and have a mix of clothes bought from ethical shops and second hand from places like ebay.

Primarks action on this is discusting! they have sacked the factories instead of working with them to implement changes - this will leave people with no jobs!

olddogbreath

Whether you work in India or in this country you are exploited by your employer. I drive a bus for £7.45 all shifts in Plymouth. People will get on a cheaper bus if they can and argue with the driver about the price. If you buy clothes, food or any other commodity you look for value, especially at times like these. We would all like to think ethically etc, but we live in ignorance and reality.
The producers of these tv shows, get a nice trip somewhere and dig the dirt on a UK company - well done. They should do it here and then people would think.

leonie08

olddogbreath wrote: »

Whether you work in India or in this country you are exploited by your employer. I drive a bus for £7.45 all shifts in Plymouth. People will get on a cheaper bus if they can and argue with the driver about the price. If you buy clothes, food or any other commodity you look for value, especially at times like these. We would all like to think ethically etc, but we live in ignorance and reality.
The producers of these tv shows, get a nice trip somewhere and dig the dirt on a UK company - well done. They should do it here and then people would think.

So what about the tv producers? It seems we're jealous of everyone who has more than us and don't give a sh*t about those who are suffering and have less. We have a lot more than basic needs

JuliaJolie

olddogbreath wrote: »

Whether you work in India or in this country you are exploited by your employer. I drive a bus for £7.45 all shifts in Plymouth. People will get on a cheaper bus if they can and argue with the driver about the price. If you buy clothes, food or any other commodity you look for value, especially at times like these. We would all like to think ethically etc, but we live in ignorance and reality.
The producers of these tv shows, get a nice trip somewhere and dig the dirt on a UK company - well done. They should do it here and then people would think.

So now that you're not ignorant - what's your excuse? No offence, but that sounds like a poor attempt at rationalising by just generalising and shifting the blame onto other people.

Alright, I guess I have to repeat myself here - it's NOT just about the low wages. It's about the conditions of the sweatshops, and the dangers these people face. From my earlier post:

"Did any of you even know that sweatshops were a 19th-Century offshoot of slavery after its supposed abolition?

The word "sweatshop" leaves a nasty taste in your mouth for the right reason - workers are crammed into crowded, hot and unsanitary conditions, have NO rights whatsoever, and many young girls and women are often raped (as in the 2007 Mexican sweatshop incidents). Many are forced to even sleep there - there's no security, no fire codes - and in some chemical plants women have had birth defects and/or have suffered some form of respiratory toxic poisoning as a result. In a word, it's dangerous."

mimie

olddogbreath wrote: »

Whether you work in India or in this country you are exploited by your employer. I drive a bus for £7.45 all shifts in Plymouth. People will get on a cheaper bus if they can and argue with the driver about the price. If you buy clothes, food or any other commodity you look for value, especially at times like these. We would all like to think ethically etc, but we live in ignorance and reality.


I couldnt agree more..thats how the "obesely" rich became rich..by greed and exploitation of the masses where ever they are. Slavery is not JUST the trading of a fellow human for cash !

How about the very little girls as young as 6 and even younger that endlessly weave the most expensive rugs..did any one ever wonder why the knots of the rugs are so small and tight.. and thats what makes them expensive...because they can ONLY be done by very tiny fingers...much younger than 12. The rugs are not sold for £3 in primark...are they?..no one every makes a program on them...because they will be bought by the producers of programmes...programmes that
play on the guilt of the masses.. the masses they exploit whether they are in India, Europe or Africa. And no..I am not saying this because I am jealous of rich people...Sadly 99% of the time being "Obesely" rich is not about being successful..but more about exploitation of labour and pure old fashioned greed.

anneshaw

OK, so if everyone stops buying the cheap clothing what will happen to the children? Starvation or more than likely they will end up being sold into the sex industry. Which ocupation would you prefer them to work in?

Sarahsaver

I think most of us have probably bought such things at one time or another.

leonie08

anneshaw wrote: »

OK, so if everyone stops buying the cheap clothing what will happen to the children? Starvation or more than likely they will end up being sold into the sex industry. Which ocupation would you prefer them to work in?

By buying ethically produced clothing instead of the cheap clothing the parents of the children will be earning enough to support their families! That is the whole point!

Lets make sure the demand for ethical products continues to grow instead of moaning and making excuses.

leonie08

Sarahsaver wrote: »

I think most of us have probably bought such things at one time or another.

of course we have... and? this is about what we are going to do from now on is it not? As we become more educated we make educated decisions.