PBS News Hour: Horrible Situations of Chinese Workers

Run time: 08:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aw3L6yEsls   Posted on YouTube: November 22, 2007 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 22, 2007 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 1325

 
November 20 - PBS News Hour.

The Chinese Ministry of Health in 2005 noted at least 200 million of China's labor force of 700 million workers were routinely exposed to toxic chemicals and life-threatening diseases in factories. "More than 16 million enterprises in China have been subjecting workers to high, poisonous levels of toxic chemicals," the ministry said at a conference on occupational diseases in Beijing, which was reported by the state-controlled media. The ministry particularly blamed "foreign-funded" enterprises that exported goods...

The scale of the fatal diseases, deaths and amputations challenge the common wisdom -- recited in both the Chinese and American press -- that U.S. trade with China has helped Chinese factory workers improve their lives and living standards. "If I had known about the serious effects of the chemicals, I would not possibly have taken that job," said Chen Honghuan, 40, who was poisoned while handling cadmium to make batteries for export to Rayovac, EverReady, Energizer and Panasonic in the U.S...


Unions outlawed

In most countries, trade unions help ensure that employers abide by occupational health and safety regulations. The unions also help train workers in proper use of machines and protective equipment.

China has only one trade union, controlled by the central government. Its function is to enhance production and maintain labor discipline. Workers who try to organize or establish their own free trade unions are arrested and face lengthy prison sentences. Lawyers who have tried to help them also have been imprisoned..."


Chinese workers lose their lives producing goods for America
By Loretta Tofani
http://extras.sltrib.com/china/

Many saw it coming decades ago and refused to insist that the Chinese adhere to some degree of labor standards if American companies moved operations to China.

own :)

and my only concern is for American jobs. We have given away fat too much. chinese products need to be boycotted.

in this country and ultimately it is not the workers in China.


Costly Trade With China..... "The 1.8 million jobs opportunities lost nationwide since 2001 are distributed among all 50 states and the District of Columbia..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=70690&mesg_id=70732

Since the Chinese Communist Party has never had to deal with the kind of labor abuses of this kind not inflicted by the state itself, they necessarily have few or lax laws against the kinds of exploitation that didn't exist prior to the introduction of capitalism. Is it right? No. It can't be morally justified by any standard except that one could argue it's still a might better than true slavery.

Capitalism has a foothold on the Chinese mainland. Naturally, this will require the imposition of regulations preventing mass abuse of workers. It must be done, or the Communist Party will one day be overthrown by an enraged workforce that it ironically claims to represent.

Anyone who believes these are Communists would believe that Republicans are for Healthy Forests, Clean Skies, and Leaving No Child Behind.

Capitalism doesn't just have a foothold, it has taken over wholesale. There is probably not a single factory in all of China where the workers actually control the means of production. It is probably worse than slavery, for a prudent slaveholder would want to maintain the value of his asset, whereas in China, there is always another rural peasant to take the place of a factory worker who just keeled over.

has been replaced by Chinese slavery.

That is exactly correct. Except the entire third world is now the slave shop. The third world gives the first world more money every day than they receive in aid...it's disgusting and immoral.