How To Become An Ethical Customer?
International trade has transcended boundaries and regions, and has become a universal phenomenon. The lower costs of production in developing countries have prompted many companies to shift their production bases in these locations. The costs of production are much lower in developing countries as compared to the United Kingdom, and this provides an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to outsource their production to developing countries. The major chunk of outsourced business goes to Asia, specifically South East Asia, as that region boasts of lower labour rates and an extensive industrial base.
However, some of these companies, mainly related to electronics and garments, are misusing this opportunity and exploiting the natives. They find it very convenient to pay minimum to the workers and use their power to exploit the labour in other ways as well.
There have been instances of mass exploitation of workers and some were even refused their meagre salaries as they raised their voices in protest. The factories produced cheaper products and sold them in the European market at compatible rates. The only beneficiary of this trade was the company involved in all this heinous crime.
When the news of this exploitation reached the UK, many newspapers and media organisations started raising their voice. Some even started boycotting the products of a company that was known for its questionable practices in the outsourced production unit.
Some of the companies involved earlier are now trying to change the situation, after all this is becoming public. They have worked on improving the working condition for their overseas employees and increasing their wages. But, this is not enough as other companies are still continuing with their evil plans.
As a consumer for these goods we have a direct responsibility to know about the ways these companies go about manufacturing their products. It is not very hard, and can be done with a little research. Online websites for these companies and other available information posted online can provide help. If we get to know about something wrong, it is all but ethical to boycott the label.
Another problem we face through this outsourcing is the lack of proper environmental standards. Just like they take labour for granted, some of the companies, working in the developing countries, also pollute the environment they work in. They take advantage of the fact that most of these countries do not have proper check and balance for environmental issues. Logically speaking, this problem is even bigger than mistreating the labour as it affects a far bigger number of lives. Every customer should check before buying products related to such companies.
This whole situation can be changed very easily with the help of the awareness of the customers. They need to know what is going on, and should get together to completely boycott any such products. This will leave the culprits to either go out of business or mend their ways.