I spent countless hours researching and ended up with nothing. As I pursued perhaps the most important “social justice” topic our world has to offer in an age where anything can be Googled, I was surprised by the lack of information. Corporations don’t want to publicize their misconduct. Consumers don’t want to feel the guilt of their purchasing habits. Legal entities don’t want to highlight how international law has failed. To make the long story short, sweatshop labor is not something we want to talk about. After slanting most of my research projects for school toward international economic development and labor abuse, I have found that no matter where you look-the internet, academic articles, newspaper, etc., there is a lack of information on the topic with the exception of 1-2 documentaries and some old/vague articles.
A slave is defined as “one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence” by Merriam Webster Dictionary. Every day, large companies are taking advantage of the struggling economic conditions of developing nations. In many of these places, there are virtually no options for jobs except manufacturing plants that move in for Western corporations. In a typical labor market, employers are expected to compete for employees through wages. Therefore, the higher the wages that are offered, the better and more product employees they receive. This, along with minimum wage laws, ensures that some sort of decent wage is paid to American employees.
This sort of protection does not exist in manufacturing plants overseas. There is a “monopsony” in the labor market. This means there is one consumer of labor in the labor market. Because there is no competition and there are no additional opportunities for labor, corporations that own these plants drive down wages to as low as 16 cents an hour. In conclusion, because this is the only available work option in many of these areas, people are forced to comply. There only other option is to have no job. However, corporate executives and supply chain managers are not the only ones to blame, every day we support these practices by purchasing their clothing.
The Kingdom of God is incompatible with this type of abuse. James 5 chapter 4 states, “Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” In this section of James, God hears the cries of the labors who are being treated unjustly. Their tears reach the heavens. If we are called to have the same heart that God has, we are called to hear their cries as well. Not only are we called to show them mercy, but we are called to restore their dignity that God has given to each one of us.
In the West, this systematic abuse is not something that we consider the top of our priority list. We don’t see it outside our doors, and we are far removed from the situation and the consequences of our actions. I never quite imagined that I would have the opportunity to stand in solidarity with individuals and communities who are affected by sweatshop labor. This is an issue that is incredibly complex and anything but black and white. However, one reason as to why in the world I chose to participate in the world race is to observe the economic impact first hand. After doing as much secondary research as possible for my economic classes, I understand that this experience will allow me to be a more informed advocate for these communities when I return to the States.
Many factories exist in El Salvador, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia- all of which I will be living in during the World Race. Please pray for the millions of people impacted by this modern form of slave labor. May the news of Christ bring peace into their hearts and a fire for change into ours.
