Questions: 1. Discuss the issues involved in this case. How did these issues arise? Who are the stakeholders? (list them in order and why you rank them that way)
2. Who is responsible for how the workers are treated:Philips-van Heusen, Calvin Klein Inc., Warnaco, The Clover Group, the factory managers, the Chinese government, Qin, or the consumers who buy the jeans? Why? If you think someone is not responsible, why?
3. Except for not paying overtime, the Chinese factory is in compliance with most Chinese laws and most of the IALB Code. Is this enough? Should the factory also comply with U.S. labor laws? Why?
4. If The Clover Group was an American company instead of Chinese, would it be doing anything illegal? Would it be doing anything unethical? What is the contractor's responsibility to the workers? Consider the title of this assignment, is this a global sweatshop or a great opportunity? Why?
5. Another issue separate from worker's rights is China's record on human rights. Many Americans believe we should conduct no business or trade with China because of its abysmal human rights record. For example, Zhang Qin cannot vote for her leaders and if she complains about the government, she could be arrested and imprisoned. Do you think countries like the U.S. should enact laws prohibiting trade with China until it improves human rights for its citizens?
6. What is your responsibility as a consumer? Would you buy a pair of Calvin Klein jeans knowing the conditions of the factory it was made in? Would you buy the jeans if they cost twice as much because theywere made in an American factory? (To be produced domestically, jeans have to be priced at "$200-plus," says Shelda Hartwell-Hale, a vice president at Directives West, an L.A.-based division of fashion consulting firm Doneger Group.)
7. Qin says her life is miserable, but adds, "That's life." Do you agree "that's life?" Would it be different if she lived in another Asian country such as Cambodia or Bangladesh? What forces and structures are at work that are beyond her and what things can she control?
8. Workers describe their factories as hot and dusty, with inadequate ventilation. What role, if any, should employers play in providing better working conditions for their workers? How about the government?
9. A Chinese worker says, "If I make 2,000 yuan a month, I need to save 1,800 yuan. But when Americans make 2,000 a month, they will spend all 2,000." What is the speaker implying about the values of each culture? In your view, is this a fair description of Westerners? What are the consequences of society-wide saving/spending patterns? Research the savings rate of Chinese.
10. What role do family ties play in the willingness of workers to endure hardship? In what ways is Qin like or unlike high school dropouts in the U.S.?
11. Is this situation black and white or gray? Explain and state the ethical theory that guides your decision.
12. In Sept. 2013, The Boston Globe reported: "Last week, crowds camped overnight at the Boylston Street Apple Store, desperate to be first to get their hands on the newest iPhone. Someday in the not-too-near future, those same fan boys and girls will instead be waiting by their computers. Apple will, after much hype, post the designs for its latest gadget. They'll pay a fee, download the plans, and watch as their 3-D printers quickly build their phone. When finished, they'll pick it up and turn it on, along with millions of others who just did the same thing. When that happens, the Chinese economy will collapse." Technology has the power to make jobs obsolete overnight. Does the possibility that manufacturing jobs like Qin's will disappear make the issues in this story moot?
The information of above questions are enclosed below:
Attachment:- 2165295_1_A-Global-Sweatshop.docx