This week Foxconn was audited to make sure it meets international standard conditions, after Apple faced some protests because of concerns about the conditions workers that produced its products face.
It was reported that so far, the working conditions are above average. I'm not satisfied since above average might as well that working conditions are bad, but not as bad as in other factories.
My main concern is that it seems that our demands for the consumer goods is driving the kind of conditions for worker that called for the audits. The more things are bought mindlessly, the more companies have to produce to meet that demand. This mindless consumerism is what sets the stage for people out for a profit, try to abuse of workers.
It is to be expected that employers to give good labor conditions to their employees. But, if we all we limit to do is to consume without paying attention under what conditions the goods we buy are produced, we share part of the blame of the any abuse toward the workers.
Yes, is naive to believe that all abuse can be stamped out. There always will be people trying to play the system, and get away with as much as they can. Yet, we can help to make those cases the exception and not the rule.
We need to remain vigilant to how the companies from which we buy goods or services treat their employees. After all, it's with the money they get from us how they remain in business. We can help to better working conditions by buying from those companies that give good working condition. Also by passing the voice around of which one are the ones who treat their employees, so other people can avoid supporting those companies.
We can make the difference, and help construct a better word. All we need, is to remain vigilant and act when there is a need to do so.
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