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We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

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Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#21

Post by edw519 »

potatolicious wrote: post #16

This article, IMHO, is written by someone who has no idea how things work just about anywhere that's not the industrialized West, and is shocked and appalled that things aren't as awesome as they are in the US of A. It's a also a reminder for those of us who live in such ridiculous comfort and freedom that it can get much, much worse. That being said, I think this article is sensationalist tripe: > "The idea that ‘wi…

Nice comment.

I also started reading this, expecting something Upton Sinclairesque, until I read

While working, the young people cannot talk, use their cell phones or listen to music.

Duh. I know quite a few places here in the U.S. that would double their output with a rule like that.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#22

Post by huherto »

weezer wrote: post #11

I don't condone conditions like this, but everyone should be able to put this in the context of the general standard of living in China. I've been to dorms in Chinese Universities and they don't look much different from the dorms these workers live in. The average income per person is $6,600, but still 10% of China's population, mostly rural people, live on less than $1 a day. (There are some very rich people in the…

Very good comment. They are better off with these jobs than without them. Still, they should have some basic working conditions. Such as max 45hrs a week. 2 week vacation a year, etc.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#23

Post by cryptnoob »

This is BS.

     Over the past three years, unprecedented photographs of 
     exhausted teenaged workers, toiling and slumping asleep 
     on their assembly line during break time, have been 
     smuggled out of the KYE factory.
That's what they do there. Even the office workers do this. They turn off the lights, and for 20 minutes, they all put their heads down on their desk and try to nap. You may be put off that such behavior is "mandated". What if you don't feel like napping? But it's not "exhausted workers" passing out from lack of sleep. What crap this is.

"photographs ... smuggled out"? Really? I've taken these photos myself, with factory management standing next to me. To western eyes, seeing a room full of workers sitting in silence with their heads down, in the middle of a work day, is interesting, and I wanted to show my wife. No "smuggling" was necessary.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#25

Post by ibsulon »

ShabbyDoo wrote: post #20
potatolicious wrote: post #16

This article, IMHO, is written by someone who has no idea how things work just about anywhere that's not the industrialized West, and is shocked and appalled that things aren't as awesome as they are in the US of A. It's a also a reminder for those of us who live in such ridiculous comfort and freedom that it can get much, much worse. That being said, I think this article is sensationalist tripe: > "The idea that ‘wi…

I recall reading one Brit's assessment of a Nike "sweatshop" in Vietnam. One of the main concerns of the employees was that overtime opportunities be provided. I'm now considering an out-of-town consulting engagement, and I'd much prefer to work 10+ hours four days a week and have a long weekend with my family. Perhaps these workers are taking this to the extreme -- six months on and six months off?

These workers are taking it to the extreme: 12 months on, their kids have a shot at going to college rather than working in a factory.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#26

Post by weezer »

huherto wrote: post #22
weezer wrote: post #11

I don't condone conditions like this, but everyone should be able to put this in the context of the general standard of living in China. I've been to dorms in Chinese Universities and they don't look much different from the dorms these workers live in. The average income per person is $6,600, but still 10% of China's population, mostly rural people, live on less than $1 a day. (There are some very rich people in the…

Very good comment. They are better off with these jobs than without them. Still, they should have some basic working conditions. Such as max 45hrs a week. 2 week vacation a year, etc.

The Chinese government has three (approximately) week long holiday periods around the lunar new year, labor day, and national day. For factories like the one described in the article, they can expect up to about 30% of their workers to leave on vacation and not come back.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#27

Post by ibsulon »

huherto wrote: post #22
weezer wrote: post #11

I don't condone conditions like this, but everyone should be able to put this in the context of the general standard of living in China. I've been to dorms in Chinese Universities and they don't look much different from the dorms these workers live in. The average income per person is $6,600, but still 10% of China's population, mostly rural people, live on less than $1 a day. (There are some very rich people in the…

Very good comment. They are better off with these jobs than without them. Still, they should have some basic working conditions. Such as max 45hrs a week. 2 week vacation a year, etc.

Factory workers here would revolt if you limited them to 45 hours. Many regularly work 60.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#28

Post by abentspoon »

potatolicious wrote: post #16

This article, IMHO, is written by someone who has no idea how things work just about anywhere that's not the industrialized West, and is shocked and appalled that things aren't as awesome as they are in the US of A. It's a also a reminder for those of us who live in such ridiculous comfort and freedom that it can get much, much worse. That being said, I think this article is sensationalist tripe: > "The idea that ‘wi…

Yes. The article was full of this.

> All workers must trim their fingernails so as not to impede production.

> Workers are strictly prohibited from entering any work area other than their own.

> Workers describe factory food as awful.

Teenagers complaining about cafeteria food? Really? I'm sure conditions are bad, but the article is trying too hard.

As bad as things are, the boy interviewed comes back each night for four hours of voluntary overtime.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#29

Post by lutorm »

potatolicious wrote: post #16

This article, IMHO, is written by someone who has no idea how things work just about anywhere that's not the industrialized West, and is shocked and appalled that things aren't as awesome as they are in the US of A. It's a also a reminder for those of us who live in such ridiculous comfort and freedom that it can get much, much worse. That being said, I think this article is sensationalist tripe: > "The idea that ‘wi…

"Privileged white collars shocked and dismayed that blue collar work can really, really suck. News at 11."

Your comment made me think: Privileged white collar shows complete disregard for those that have it worse. News at 11.

Re: We are like prisoners... We do not have a life, only work.

#30

Post by lsc »

rubyrescue wrote: post #14

How do people who are appalled by this not contribute to it without exiting the world of technology altogether? I can't imagine the factories for Apple or Dell are any better... Is there a "no-sweatshop" watchdog organization for tech that says what equipment is manufactured in better conditions?

how effective do you think such an organization could be?

For example, the first job I worked at the age of 14-15 was below 'minimum wage' in my area and thus could be called an 'illegal sweatshop' but realistically, considering my background and options (I had no immediate financial need to work; this was my 'foot in the door') it was just some kid getting some experience.

The thing is, I didn't go to school. (I mean, I went to highschool, but that's little more than babysitting. I didn't go to college) If you want to get a job that requires a degree without having that degree, you need to do that job for a smaller company that is paying you way below market rates before you can do that job at market rates. It's the way it works, and it worked out fine for me. I ended up making more than anyone I grew up with.

I'm not saying that my situation compares with that of the Chineese teens; I'm just saying, you need to be careful to define sweatshop in a way that would protect those who need protecting, without getting in the way of those who don't. My stepmother made me quit my first job after she found out that not only were they paying me under the table, they didn't have workman's comp. I was being "exploited." I mean, I was being exploited. But it was a hugely positive experience with me. The shady computer repair place sold me discounted used computer parts for years to come, and I was able to get a (legal, minimum wage, with school credit) job at one of the local county offices that was a customer of the shady computer repair place the next summer, so it all worked out okay in the end, but without getting that foot in the door, who knows how long it would have taken my career to take off?

I'm not saying yours isn't a worthy goal, just... you need to be careful with it.

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