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Catalina Gomez replied on Wed, 07/17/2013 – 11:25 Permalink
Hi Katy, I agree that the abuses of international companies are to blame for some of the very low working conditions affecting millions of workers in various developing countries. But I also think that globalization is actually helping in many ways to change such abusive reality. In a general way, globalization is making people more aware of the insecure conditions for workers and the tragedies related to them. Being able to see such evidence on TV, and being able to follow it on Facebook and Twitter is also putting some pressure in the companies that are taking advantage on the local cheap labor. The fact is that such information can affect their reputation and therefore their sales.
In addition, I think that as a global economic and social problem, adequate labor conditions need to be discussed in international audiences and committees, and in this sense global forums might help to put pressure on countries that don’t support minimum standards. What I still consider is a local “duty” and where most countries need to do their “homework” is in strengthening their own legislations and mechanisms to ensure basic standards are really met. Ulfat in her article from Dhaka explains that many garment factory owners are lawmakers as well, creating a clear conflict of interest and very low incentives for change. This leaves room for international/global pressure to support long lasting change in partnership with related local movements and civil society organizations.