Ethics, Dictionary.com defines ethics as “the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.”. “Ethics”, can be understood by all types of people: athletes, artists, students, business people, and business’ alike. Nike inc., publicly endorses and pays a large amounts of people to represent them because they have exhibited exemplary work ethic. Does that not mean that Nike inc. should also display proper ethics? Or, does paying those that do have respectable ethics enough?

Nike inc. has been found guilty of not paying over 1 million dollars of overtime compensation to Indonesian factory workers. An out of court settlement, earlier in 2012, was reached between factory workers and Nike inc.. This settlement see’s that 4,500 employees receive proper payment for their many hours of unpaid, mandatory, labour. This settlement opens up the doors for many other factory workers and unions to protest their working conditions as the chairman of Serikat Pekerja National labour union, Bambang Wirahyoso, states “This has the potential to send shockwaves through the Indonesian labour movement”. Wirahyoso further adresses the problem’s severity explaining, “There are more than 100,000 factory workers in Serang, and those who are most prone to overwork are labourers for branded merchandise, since they have to achieve certain targets,”.

Ethics, Morals, and Rights; I capitalize these words as they are words that need to establish a place in every human being’s life. This article is not intended to take away from the integrity of Nike inc, rather, intended to create questioning. Questioning of your Ethics,  your Morals and your Rights. As students looking to enter the daunting world of business we need to establish what we want to do with the power we may have one day.

Be Ethical, live by proper Morals, and understand the Rights you are given. Together we can make a change and create a world of business we are proud to be apart of.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/12/nike-1m-indonesian-workers-overtime