Ethics Essay

You are a senior manager in a manufacturing company,NuClothing International Pty. Ltd., whichmakes garments for the high end fashion retailers in Australia. Like many companies, the company you work for has found that it is cheaper to move the manufacturing operation overseas. It wishes to expand its operations hopes to find markets overseas for its products. NuClothing has recently opened its factory in Fiji. You have been heavily involved in the move to Vanuatu and have spent some time there ensuring that the factory is properly manned and running smoothly. During your stay you have come to really appreciate the wonderful Fijian people and their culture.

You are reading the Fiji Times Online over your morning cup of coffee and read the following article:

Child labour worry

AN estimated 3500 people aged between six and 17 dropped out of school between April 2010 and March 2011, says Minister for Employment and Productivity JiojeKonrote.

He said the majority of these dropouts - 49.7 per cent - were aged 10 to 14.

Addressing a child labour training program organised by the International Labour Organization for six regional countries, he said an employment and unemployment survey of 2010 to 2011 highlighted the growing number of school dropouts in the country."The main reasons for leaving school were not interested, cannot afford, disability or illness, family did not support them, to help out at home, to work as unpaid family worker and other reasons," Mr Konrote said."Many of these out-of-school children with little qualifications end up in child labour, forced into activities that are harmful to their health, physical, mental and moral wellbeing."

ILO office for Pacific Island Countries specialist on strategies for decent work, Satoshi Sasaki, said the ILO's World Report on Child Labour, Paving Decent Work for the Young, highlighted the need for accelerated global action targeting child labour. (RepekaNasiko, Wednesday, July 29, 2015)

At the office

As you walk into the office, you meet a member of the Board of Directors, John Nakarawa and join him in the lift. John was born in Fiji and mentions the same article. You voice your concern regarding the employment of children, who then cannot go to school. John states that it is all very well for people to say that children should stay at school, but he can also understand why some families find it necessary to find employment for their children so that they can feed and clothe everyone. He goes on to say that, in some countries, parents are happy to see their children in jobs because it can mean the difference between poverty and long-term prosperity for the children. John thinks this is little understood by people in Australia.

In your office later, mind turns back to your time in Fijiand remember that John was also on the management team who went over. John was very involved in recruitment. On consideration, you become worried that some of the new employees may be underage (although you don't think that they are 10!). What should you do?

Required

Describe what actions, if any, you would take in the above situation. Outline the possible outcomes of those actions and how you would deal with them. There are a number of competing stakeholders that will be affected by your decision, including yourself. Critically evaluate the situation. In your answer, you must explore the competing ethical considerations in the case given. Include in your discussion the impacts that different decisions may have on the different stakeholders. In your conclusion you should outline which decision you would go with, why you have made that choice and the possible impacts of that decision on the different stakeholders. Remember there is no right or wrong answer.