On April 24 of this year, the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed, leaving 1,129 dead. [1] Survivors of the accident claim that even though several cracks appeared in the building, they were still instructed to resume work. [2] Let’s not forget that Bangladesh has a history of workplace incidents relating to poor safety regulations.
Shortly following this event, major clothing labels H&M, Zara, and others agreed to sign the “Bangladesh Accord on Factory and Building Safety”. [3] While this agreement intends to protect workers from accidents, it also shows that many companies who outsource have little regard for the safety of their workers. After all, these companies focus on maximizing profit by cutting corners. These corporations could improve wages and safety measures, but that would mean an increase in the production price of their products; this option could upset shareholders and detract customers. We have seen companies like American Apparel, who pay their employees well and still profit financially, but they are considered the minority. [4] It is my belief that because corporations focus so heavily on maximizing profit, a majority of them voluntarily ignore the ethical issues behind their decisions, yet it rarely causes permanent damage to their image.
Original Article: The Guardian
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Sources:
[1] The Guardian
[2] The New York Times
[3] Clean Clothes Campaign
[4] American Apparel Press Archive
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