Anita Kong's Blog

The term family business can best describe the controversial ethics of Alberta farmers  and PepsiCo.  Alberta farmers are still practicing traditional farming methods where children, as young as 8 are required to participate in farm work.  As child labour laws have been enforced in Canada, it appears that governments don’t want to interfere with family businesses.

PepsiCo takes advantage of the fact that labour laws don’t apply to industrial farming operations in Canada.  Due to this, they are willing to oversee that child labour is involved in the production of potatoes.  Since Alberta farmers are the fourth highest producers of potatoes in Canada as reported in 2010, PepsiCo is all for supporting the fixed supply and profit it will bring to their company.

However, I strongly oppose to the ethics of PepsiCo.  The company seeks to maximize their profits at the expense of child labour.  In most cases, children are reluctant to continue the family business – it is a business where children are given no freedom to explore their own dreams.  In addition, children face the possibility of injury each day at work to ensure productivity.

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