The Ethics Behind Unsafe Working Conditions

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Although many businesses and companies seem to run successfully without compromising their ethics, their are others which cross the line into morally unstable business practices.  In April of 2013, a Joe Fresh factory in Bangladesh collapsed killing over 300 people.  Loblaw, the company that owns Joe Fresh, publicly announced changes in their company’s rules in regard to building safety regulations and offered some compensation to the families of the victims.  Although these efforts may have helped prevent similar accidents later on from their company, the fact remains that the factory where their products were being produced was not safe to begin with.  Do businesses that choose to manufacture their products in countries overseas (such as Bangladesh) not have a social responsibility to keep track of the working conditions for their employees?  Should they not feel ethically obligated to keep the working standards for their employees at a safe level?  Although it seems doubtful that all businesses will tighten their regulations enough to prevent any future incidents similar to this one, hopefully there will eventually be enough pressure placed on the companies which still take part in undesirable business/business dealings to end unethical practices all together.

 

References/Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/29/joe-fresh-factory-collapse-loblaws_n_3177239.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marni-soupcoff/bangladesh-factory_b_3216281.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/03/loblaw-bangladesh-factory-collapse_n_3209620.html

http://www.stylelist.ca/2013/04/03/the-orange-story-joseph-mimran-explains-joe-freshs-famous-logo/

Read 1 comment

  1. I think this one really demonstrates the problem of ethic foundation in a business. A pretty well-known company like Joe’s should know better to treat their workers in a better manner. I feel as if I should stop supporting their business by not buying clothes from their company. 300 people died… more people should know about this. I like your analysis!

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