Is the US Senate Actually Attempting To Deal With Sweatshops?
When I first saw this article, please follow my train of thought here, I figured it was just another attempt to limit free trade by Senator Dorgan that would go nowhere fast. Then I read that Republican Graham from
South Carolina has also sponsored the bill making it slightly bipartisan. I also remembered that the Senate and House are now controlled by the Democrats. Finally, I thought "maybe this bill will actually do something this time".Of Course an anti-sweatshop labor bill is long overdue. United States corporations have been reaping the benefits of slave-like-labour ever since free trade has flourished and "buy American" is no longer a mantra among Americans (except perhaps a few ignorant GM/Ford buyers who actually believe the trucks they purchased are purely American). Corporations have fought battles to maintain their precious labels, logos, and trademarks, but how much priority have
they put into their workers? Foreign firms that sell to US retailers are frequently exposed for child or sweatshop labour. One such exposure was the Harvest Rich Factory in Bangladesh. After an English news channel broke the story of child labour at the factory, Harvest Rich fired a number of teenagers only to rehire them later as "malnourished adults" instantly changing them from 13 year old children to 18-19 year old young adults. Next time your at Wal*Mart contemplating that sweater for $12.88, picture your 14 year old daughter or neice sitting in a hot factory for 16 hour shifts making only pennies each hour. Is frugality really worth the dark energy that garment is tainted with? Still, how effective would the proposed Senate bill be if it were to make it through Congress? There are a couple interesting measures to it. One I find amusing would turn corporations on each other. A company could file a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) alleging that its competitor was selling products made in sweatshops. If the complaint was valid, the company would be fined $10,000 and ordered to stop purchasing from the firm conducting sweatshop labor practices. While I find $10,000 an inadequate fine for a corporation, perhaps the negative publicity would add to the effect.
Overall, this is a bill that takes a step in the right direction. I'm glad one of my Senators has supported it and I'm sure my representative will as well, due to his supporting similar measures in the past. So please if you are a conscious consumer here in the States please contact your Congress people on the matter. Even if the issue only grabs media attention, perhaps more consumers will begin to think holisticallly about their purchases. Below are some more details:
S.367
Title: A bill to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Dorgan, Byron L. [ND] (introduced 1/23/2007) Cosponsors (5)
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 1/23/2007
Sen Byrd, Robert C. [WV] - 1/23/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] - 1/23/2007
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 1/23/2007
Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 1/23/2007
Labels: Politics
posted by BurdockBoy @ 11:43 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
you said it well. Let's hope things change with the dems in control.
We do not buy new clothing for this very reason. My children know about children their age who work for pennies a day in order for someone here in the states to buy that article of clothing for cheap.
It is far from cheap.
any time I see Lindsey Graham attached to anything, I must be skeptical.. If it's any good, it's all political for him.
Good info. I still don't think that many people are aware of the picture. They hear the term "sweatshop" and have the notion that it is bad, but they also feel convinced that none of the products they buy are produced this way. The oppression of others for material benefit or a cheaper prices is still oppression. And whether one knows that the goods one buys are produced this way or not makes little difference - if they are, then the consumer is an oppressor as well. As Americans, I feel we've really made ourselves blind to this issue. Hopefully your post will open a few eyes. Way to go.
kim: we don't buy new clothing either, except the occasional hemp or fair trade product, but I even feel guilty buying used clothing from countries like China or Bangladesh.
crall: i don't see how anyone could be againstthis bill, especially the so-called ethical christian senators. If any of them refuse this bill they are bigger hypocritesthan i thought.
Fool: I still hear people in denial use the excuse claiming that the workers are thankful for the job. They don't seem to grasp that they are perpetuating the situation. I almost drop dead when I hear someone sympathising with corporations. It makes me furious.
$10,000 is a paltry fine. It's sad that consumers would rather exchange integrity and human rights for a few bucks.
Interesting. I thought lot of our labor laws needs to be looked at.
A good word is "exploiting the workers"
Maybe it time for us to put in some labor laws so no one in world will get exploited included us here in a America.
Jenny: as I mentioned they seem to put more merit in their logos and trademarks than their workers integrity.
peppylady: We could definitely use some better labour laws here as well, but I believe mot of the sweatshops have packed up and oved to greener pastures overseas.
yes,fair trade clothing is good and ethical. Every item I own that is hemp has lasted forever. Even with a steeper price tag it is well worth it.
I do feel that when I partake in recycling an item it is good,even if it was made in China. Like you though,there is an element of guilt.
Even if we make our own clothing the fabric was most likely made in china. Very frustrating.
Hey, THANKS! You helped me write the lesson plans this week. I'm using this info for a seed discussion and journal reflection this week.
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