All
technological devices are the result of a series of processes such as design
creation, research on the product impact, and manufacturing. The latter
corresponds to the process of assembling the device manually or mechanically,
and it tends to be rather polemic. Most manufacturers are from China, and they supply
companies such as Apple, Nokia, and Motorola.
As I mentioned
before, manufacturing is a polemic topic because of many reasons. One of them
relates to the working conditions of the workers, who have to work long hours
and seven days per week sometimes. Moreover, these labors have experienced
traumatic accidents inside their work place; for instance, on January, two
people were killed because of an explosion in an Apple supplier that was
assembling iPad cases. On top of that, workers receive little payment for their
services despite the accidents and diseases they are exposed to.
Also, the companies
who have suppliers do not seem to be concerned about these accidents. Apple is famous
in this regard since several independent reports indicate that they do not
change the working codes even when mortal accidents occur inside their
manufacturers; for example, when they were alerted that dangerous chemicals
would end up jeopardizing the life of the workers, they did not heed the
warning and several accidents ensued.
Whether the
companies pay or do not pay attention to the working conditions of their
workers, it is up to them. What is sadder is the fact that the Chinese government
has allowed this to happen and that the investigations are carried out by
independent organizations alien to the official administration.
If you want to know more about Apple's malpractices, read the following article.
The first thing I thought when I read this was: Wow! How is that possible? Of course, for us it is unacceptable to do that. In fact, in Chile there are laws that protect workers and their rights. But, knowing what happens in China, I feel "privileged" to live here. I know that Chile has a lot of problems too, but what happens here is nothing compared with China... we really live in a glass of water. I feel sorry for them. I was reading the article you posted and it really got my attention; how is that acceptable for them?! They are not animals to be treated like that; they are humans. Companies are exploting people for their own benefit without thinking in nothing else; they just think about money. Many workers working every single day, almost all day, in poor, harsh, and miserable conditions, paying low salaries, and sacrifying people's health and lives. The result of this? Companies gain a lot of prestige, fame, and money. Sometimes I wonder myself if this is really worthy; I'd prefer to know that people are fine, working properly in good conditions and having a better life, instead of knowing that technology is developing through abusing. How far can ambition come? What are people capable of doing for money and fame? For me, it's a real shame to think that human can be like this.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you want to feel more "comfortable," I should say that this is the way the new China has built his society. The government pays little attention to these issues, for they are only interested in making their country powerful even if that requires people working in poor conditions. Another aspect I would like to mention is that the regular Chinese labor gets accostumed to this environment, and he or she keeps on working for the sake of the money. This also happens in Chile, I recommend you to investigate a little bit about the working conditions in refineries and manufacturers here. You may find lots and lots of lawsuits regarding deaths and accidents.
ReplyDeleteI was reading extra information and you are right. Chinese workers are accostumed to that kind of environment; in fact, all of them are used to working under pressure, poor conditions, overtime, etc. I agree with you in the fact they are just interested in making the country powerful. As I see this issue from the outside, for me what they do is unacceptable. I know that, here in Chile, this also happens, but I do not think that it is at the same level as it happens in China. I would like to mention that I have a lot of relatives working in refineries and the working conditions are not bad nor poor. Making a little research I think that it depends of the companies, refineries. Some people have good luck and find a good manufacturer where to work; others have bad luck.
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