OMG+Bargain!+-+Who+is+paying+YOUR+bargain?

N8540659 Kristina Carr Tutor: Dr Mangalam Sankupellay

** Artefact ** The artefact above illustrates what westerners immediately think when we see clothing at low prices. Consumers not consider who has made this particular item, nor consider the people that are continually making the “bargain” clothing available to us, and do not stop to consider who is paying the price for the items to be at such low prices. The artifact provides a hard-hitting question and illustrates numerous garments available for purchase, and the “typical” reaction that a “bargain” shopper may portray. ** Health Issue ** The artefact delivers a powerful question, and conveys to the health issues surrounding the garment industry. The question states, “Who is paying for your cheap clothes”. The context that the artifact wants to project is, sweatshop workers are paying for your cheap clothes, by receiving low wages, working long hours and in unsafe environments. There are numerous health implications that arise within the garment industry, mental, physical and ones overall health is implicated whilst being a garment worker. Throughout the focus will be on these health issues of which the sweatshop workers endure due to the conditions in which they work and live in, in order to live their lives. = =

=Literature Review=

Sweatshops around the world are known to operate within detrimental factories, with the use of dangerous equipment, within constricted working environments, many workers experience harassment on daily occurrence and receive very low wages. Arnold and Hartman (2005) Define sweatshops as “work places in which workers are typically subject to two or more of the following working conditions, income for a 48hour week less than the overall poverty rate for that country; systematic forced overtime; systematic health and safety risks due to negligence or the willful disregard of employee welfare; coercion; systematic deception that places workers at risk; and underpayment of earning’. Numerous health implications, mental and physical arise from the working condition in which these workers are subject too. Through out the literature review the issues that will be discussed are the working conditions, low wages and the mental and physical health implication, which workers experience from a life confined to working within sweatshops.

Issues surrounding sweatshops
** Health and Working Conditions **

Sweatshops are operated around the world and have been thriving since the 17the century as a result of globalisation defined by Burns, Mullet & Bryant, (2009) “Is the process whereby nations’ economics become intertwined and interdependent” with the demand though the retail industry and consumers, sweatshops are growing ever more rapidly. Due the demanding expectations and working condition which workers endure it is their health that is being effected Dewa, (2007) states due to the stress full working environments caused by strict deadlines, ever increasing production targets and with the exposure to hazardous chemicals workers are at greater risk of illness. Goldenhar, William and Swanson, (2003) suggest workers with risky jobs are more likely to display stress symptoms. Symptoms of stress can cause many health issues such addictions, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, sleeping disorders and can lead to impairment of cognitive function and memory (Gruner, 2006). Moreover due to the stressful, and harsh conditions that sweatshop workers endure there has been reports of suicides from forced overtime and the conditions that they tolerated ( Guo, Hsu, Holton, and Jeong, 2012). Guo et al (2012) state there has been 33 cases of suicide from 2009 to 2010 within the fox conn factor in china.

Furthermore sweatshops that endorse the production of sandblasting have a higher rate of workers whom fall ill, due to the exposure of silica dust Miller (2013). According to studies it has been suggested those who are employed as a sandblaster believe their job is far more dangerous than factory workers and have a lower job satisfaction and increased stress. Sandblasting factories health and safety regulations are very poor and as a result employees have a higher rate of acquiring silicosis – silicosis has long term health effects and if left untreated can result in death ( Sahbaz, Inonu, and Ocal, 2007).

** Wages **

Sweatshops are known for the harsh conditions and the low wages, depending on the factory and company, which they work for, will depend on the wages and method of payment. Powell, & Skarbek, (2006) suggests multinational firms pay more than domestic firms and overall the majority of sweatshops pay above the average standards of living. Though this is analyzed through the comparison of Apparel Industry wages and the wages of Individual firms accused of sweatshop labor (see figure 1). Whilst workers are being paid minimal wage employers do recognize employees do need to be paid a living wage and therefore comply with local law or prevailing industry wage award Brown, Deardorff, and Stern, (2003).

Apparel Industry Wages as a Percent of Average National Income Per Worker

Depending on the country will depend on the wage in which sweatshops workers are paid Moran (2002) describes the complexity of calculating a living wage. The process of which is evaluating

These are the four main factors that contributed to the standardization of the living wage for a country. Anti sweatshop activist emphasized the introduction of the “living wage” though as stated earlier defining the concept of a “living wage” is impracticable Harrison and Scorse (2010). __ Table 1 __ __ Average Hourly Apparel Worker Wages __ Hourly Wage in U.S. $ Bangladesh $0.13 China 0.44 Costa Rica 2.38 Dominican Republic 1.62 E1 Salvador 1.38 Haiti 0.49 Honduras 1.31 Indonesia 0.34 Nicaragua 0.76 Vietnam 0.26 // Powell, & Skarbek, (2006) Source: Mandle (2003, Table 7.2, p. 108). //  In the table 1 provides an insight into the wages in which workers are receiving within the company Apparel Industry and what they convey as being an above wage and “living wage” for the workers within the company.
 * Nutritional standards
 * Type of housing
 * Expenditure categories
 * Family size as a basic wage (thought as family size differs this is unachievable)

Through out the literature review it is apparent that there are many health issues, factory neglect regarding health and safety requirements, the lack company and manufactory concern and consumer knowledge all of which need’s to be examined to improve the health and working conditions for the employees. Thought without any harm and job losses to the employees. Sweatshops provide millions of jobs and enable these people a life beyond the poverty line, if sweatshops didn’t exist what would these people be doing and where would they be.

** Methodologies ** Pookulangara, Shephard, Mestres, (2011) developed a study on the importance of sweatshops, using a mixed method data collection strategy. The aim of the study was to understand the perspectives of sweatshop threw the eyes of university students, the impact and concerns of sweatshops, the knowledge of sweatshops, beliefs of the foreign industry and the impact of support of socially responsible business. The results which Pookulangrara et al,. (2011) Received are displayed below (table 1). Additionally students would be prepared to pay more for their clothing if they knew it would benefit the workers. Pookulangrara et al., (2011) suggest further research needs to be conducted.

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= =Cultural and Social Analysis=

As society evolves so does globalizations and the apparent need and demand within the garment industry. It is the social theory of Marxism and Mcdonaldization that relates to the ever-growing garment industry and the demand. Marxism connects to capitalism and the development of ones economy, though throughout the development and increased production the health inequality of employees is a subject, which is neglected. As suggest earlier the health issues surrounding sweatshops are vastly high with workers exhibiting mental and physical illnesses and fatality. Kristof, & WuDunn, (2000) suggest the necessity of sweatshops within developing countries as a step forward for the countries development and provide employment, as the alternative work is worse off for example prostitution would be a means of income. Cheek and Moore, (2003) believe sweatshops will continue to exist as long as the industry countries to expand and globalize. It is the unethical retailers and manufactures which overlook the labor rights and company’s covey that it is hard to monitor factory conditions.

As society is forever changing, re developing, fashion and technology is continually developing sweatshops will be an everlasting means of low cost high profit from of production. Due to this, it is the sweatshop workers paying the price for the low prices in which the consumer receive and are now use to. It has become the norm to grab a bargain. Ways in which companies and consumers can help transform the unsafe working condition, low wages and demanding expectations of which sweatshop works endure are; > 1. Provide knowledge of product production > 2. Consumers seek information > 3. Consumers demand sweat free products > 4. Retailers demand sweat free products > 5. Create campaigns ie Create a day eg “Sweat it free day” – buy a badge, wear the colour “orange” to encourage consumers to buy sweat free clothes, provide information and donate to the works within sweatshops.
 * Awareness –
 * Government enforce legislations ensuring sweat free labor
 * Companies enforce regular audits and continually improve working conditions
 * Companies increase employee wages; ensure that all employees are above the living wage within their country.
 * Globally recognized health and safety regulations

The working conditions surrounding sweatshops of which workers are subject to is an important issue and needs to conversed to the public, without the knowledge and evidence of sweatshops the public are not any wiser of where and how the garments are being produced. The public needs to be made a wear of the conditions that the workers are subject to on a daily basis. Sweatshop workers have the right to work within a workplace that complies to health and safety regulations. Research needs to be conducted furthermore among the companies and factories that endorse sweatshops along with governments who neglect to maintain the safety requirements of factories.

= = =Artefact Analysis and Learning Reflection=

The artefact projects the image in which it was aimed to project, a hard hitting question with the illustration displaying the reaction of which a shopper would portray. I believe it conveyed within the review and created a great visual emphasis of how we now see discounted clothing. The reason why I choose this particular artefact was it hit me personally; I am one to love a bargain and have previously said those exact words, “OMG what a bargain”. I now understand why prices in certain shops are so cheap and know of the brands and companies that use sweatshops, which are ripping both consumers and the worker off. As I am aware of this I will be conscious of where I shop. I have learnt that there are many factors surround sweatshops and even though sweatshops are inhumane there is also a place within society for them, however factory conditions need to be improved, workers need to be paid more and society needs to be educated furthermore on who is paying for their bargain garment.


 * Reflection**

http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/page/messages/%27They+Tried+to+Make+Me+Go+to+Rehab%27 http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/page/messages/A+Picture+is+Worth+a+Thousand+Words

Reference

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Brown, D.K, Deardorff, A.V., and Stern, R.M. (2003) The Effects Of Multinational Production On Wages And Working Conditions In Developing Countries. //National Bureau Of Economic Research//. 9669.

Cheek,W. K., & Moore, C. E. (2003). Apparel sweatshops at home and abroad: Global and ethical issues. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 95 (1), 9-19.

Dewa, C. S. (2007). Mental illness and the workplace: A national concern. //Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52//(6), 337-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/222797194?accountid=13380

Goldenhar, L. M., William, L. J., and Swanson, N. G. (2003). Modeling relationships between job stressors and injury and near-miss outcomes for construction labourers. //Work and stress, 17(3),// 218-240.

Guo, L, Hsu, S.H, Holton. A., and Jeong, S.H.(2012) A case study of the Foxxconn suicides; An international perspective to framing the sweatshop issue. //The International Communication Gazette//. 74(5) 484-502 DOI:10.117/1748048512445155

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Miller, D. (2013). Breathless for blue jeans, Health hazards in chines denim factories. Clean clothes campaign. Retrieved from, War on want. Sweatshops and Plantations. []