Developing Country and Countries Essay

Michael Anderson
Professor Plake
English 103
22 March 2015
Sweatshops in Developing Countries: Are they Necessary? Many companies in the United States use developing countries to produce their items. Items such as clothing and technology that Americans use are manufactured and produced in countries such as China, Indonesia, and Mexico. Many companies in the United States are able to produce items for a much cheaper price in developing countries, therefore increasing their profit margins and final cost for the consumer. Although most people realize that many of their everyday items are made in developing countries, there is a controversial issue that lies beneath the surface of these global economic networks. A sweatshop has been defined by the United States General Accounting Office as, “a workplace that violates more than one federal or state labor law governing minimum wage and overtime, child labor, industrial homework, occupational safety and health, workers compensation, or industry regulations” (Atlismta). Sweatshops are often common workplaces for industries such as apparel and shoe making (Meyers 319). Many people are opposed to the use of sweatshops because they can be dangerous and violate many basic human rights. They often make a moral argument that it is wrong because of the unsafe working conditions and low pay that workers receive. On the other hand, others defend sweatshops because they see them as a necessary part of a growing economy. They argue that sweatshops benefit the people that are a part of developing countries and provide them with jobs that they are grateful to have. Although there are downfalls to the unsafe and unsatisfying work conditions of sweatshops, they are beneficial in many ways. With an increase in the workers civil rights and reform to improve unsafe conditions, they will become more socially accepted and still be able to contribute to economies around the globe. Those who oppose the use of sweatshops in undeveloped countries have many reasons to believe that they are morally unacceptable. The unsafe work conditions that workers must endure is one argument against sweatshops. They are often in a factory setting that is extremely hot and can be uncomfortable and unpleasant to work in. Some of the unhealthy working conditions that greatly impact the workers are poor ventilation, harmful air, and no safety measures. The workers are not provided with safety measures and equipment to be able to handle the rough conditions that they endure each and every day. Even though sweatshops are widely known for their extremely unsafe working conditions, workers continually come to work in the sweatshops. In Chris Meyers article, “Exploitation and Third World Countries,” he states that sweatshop jobs, “Benefit the workers and are entered into freely and even enthusiastically by the workers. Workers in sweatshops are usually very happy to have the work and strongly prefer working in the sweatshop to any of their alternatives” (323). Sweatshop workers freely choose to work in sweatshops and are not coerced or deceived. In fact, sweatshop workers welcome these jobs and are much better off with the job than without. The matter of the fact is that sweatshop jobs are often better than many of the other jobs that the poorest countries have to offer, and this is why people continue to flock to them for work (Meyers 322). Another reason that sweatshops are beneficial to developing countries is because they create so many jobs. The people that work in them would otherwise not have a job, and would encounter many more dangerous situations than having to work in a potentially dangerous sweatshop. The alternatives to working in a sweatshop are often more dangerous and pay less money, and sweatshops may be the only source of income. The people in developing countries are in need of economic opportunities, even if it is not suitable working conditions. The unsafe working conditions of

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