Sweatshop Fashion?

In class we have begun examining sweatshops that are run by some of the biggest countries the world has ever seen. We have looked at the atrocities that occur in these sweatshops and have begun to question intervention methods. What we can do. I have personally decided that as citizens we are able to stop boycott these products, send complaint letters to the corporations, hold strikes and create petitions; all of which will do little to nothing. I believe all the power to putting an end to these sweatshops lies completely in government hands.

These sweatshops are very unsafe. Many workers become disabled for life from accidents that can be easily be avoided in a workplace. Wages are also very low in sweatshops and hours are long. Workers receive about 0.4% of each total sale. That is a very small amount. Most workers (even with pay) are still not able to support their families or sometimes even themselves. That is unjust and wrong. Some workers have been subject to harassment verbally and sexually. Exploiting humans should not be accepted but it is.

We as civilians can do little to change this. The majority of Canada would have to boycott these companies. I have a strong doubt this would work. For one reason, there are too many stores that use sweatshop labour to produce their goods and many people are not willing to give up “good style”. We can send as many complaint letters to CEO’s of as many corporations as we possibly can and most will be destined to wait on a desk for months at best. Holding strikes and petitions will only show these corporations how many people did not attend or sign; all the people who will still buy their products. To be honest, if I was a CEO of a corporation who obviously did not care for human rights, I would not care about a few people getting angry about it, as long as I still made my money.

The way to stop these corporations is through government action. The Canadian government needs to ban selling products made in other countries such as clothing, electronics etc. Food is another story, as some can’t grow in Canada. If the government bans the selling of products made in other countries, then that will force these companies to open factories in Canada to sell to this market. This will increase Canadian economics too. If other countries follow suit with this, then these corporations will be forced to do this in every country it applies to. This will also force the removal of sweatshops out of developing countries as there will no longer be a need for them.

Some would say that passing a law stating this is not possible because it would demean the entire ideal of international trade. This is not so, trade will still be accepted with other countries as long as it free trade or trade that is ensured that the products are made with fairness and equality, ensuring human rights. It is a law that is based on morals, like many other laws in Canada that ensure human rights such as; do not commit murder, do not steal and freedom of speech; basic human rights

This is very easy for the Canadian government to do as well as many other governments around the world. It is left for them to decide whether or not they believe in human rights for all.