The Global Regime.edited

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The Global Labor Regime Introduction The global labor regime is a set of rules and regulations that govern labor standards worldwide. The global labor regime varies in different countries due to globalization and the economies of various countries. 1 . Globalization of the economy has led to multinational organizations chasing flexible production of cheap labor, resources, and low or no regulations. The proletariat is a class of individuals that survives by selling its labor to the capital group. The capitalist approach categorizes the world into three classes of economic zones. The first zone comprises well-paid workers who can afford good working conditions and mass production. The second zone comprises factory owners who are paid to manufacture products for global companies instead of making their designs. The third zone comprises economies relying on humanitarian aid and subsistence farming; regions have little economic activity here. Citizens in the second zone suffer exploitation and low wages as a result of developmentalism. 2 . Such countries are poor and developing and make most of their revenue from international corporations. It, therefore, becomes hard for their government to control and regulate labor. The global labor regime has resulted in the exploitation of workers, poor working conditions, and payment of low wages in second-zone economies. Effects of Globalization on the Global Labour Regime Globalization has moved workers across borders quickly, and it is easy for corporations to manipulate the regulations. Jurisdictional contrasts and movement regulations at the borders also make it challenging to regulate manufacturing factories. World War II and the 1929 crash 1 Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books. 2 Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books.

majorly impacted the global economy. 3 . After the two incidents, restrictions on borders affected the economy of most countries that relied on U.S consumers. The U.S. economy increased after WWII, and income inequality was at its lowest. Workers enjoyed the minimum wage rules and forty hours per week working rule. Labor unions were responsible for a skilled and stable labor force. The government helped with regulations, and workers enjoyed favorable working conditions across various industries. The globalized economy began in the 1970s, with factories establishing factories in the cheapest places possible and shipping goods to their preferred destination. Globalization made it hard to harden borders and limit workers' movement, contributing to poor working conditions and minimum wages with fewer labor regulations. Globalization increases border problems because different nations have different economic decisions. The World Trade Organization (WTO) facilitated the increase of free trade agreements between various countries by providing broad markets. Effects of Capitalism on the Global Labour Regime Capitalism categorizes nations into different zones in terms of labor and economy. Capitalism encourages global labor and economic integration and brings together markets and supply chains. Capitalism encourages competition and the quest for cheap labor. Every organization prefers the cheapest labor so that they can maximize profits. As a result, international corporations like Walmart and Loblaw manufactured their products in Bangladesh and took them to the Canadian market. Due to the increasing market demands, workers are overworked with unpaid overtime. Due to capitalism, the global labor regime is mainly impacted by multinational corporations. 3 Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books.

Countries like Bangladesh are poor, and people are willing to work for low wages. Clothing factories in Bangladesh have capitalists' behavior. They prioritize profits over the safety and well-being of their workers. Tazreen factory, for instance, caught fire in 2012. The building had nine floors, yet he had a permit for only three. The building did not have any fire escape; most doors were blocked by boxes that were barred shut. 4 . Most people died because they did not have an escape from the factory. Walmart is a multinational company whose shorts were pulled from the ashes of the factory. Walmart, however, tried to distance itself and claimed that Tazreen was not an authorized factory for them. Joe Fresh and Loblaw are international companies working with the Rana Plaza factory. These multinational companies should have followed up to see how their clothes were manufactured in Bangladesh. The textile companies in Bangladesh dumped their waste and technicolored wastewater in the river 5 . Some factories hired children under the age of ten years for minimal jobs and paid them a dollar per day. Borders and the Global Labour regime Most factories were moved from the United States to poor and developing countries, which impacted their economy. Most factories were looking for countries with the cheapest labor. Bangladesh has a large population and low wages, making it a perfect niche for manufacturing companies. ‘There were only 384 garment factories in Bangladesh in 1984; that number had grown to over 5600 in 2013.’ 6 During the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013, workers had an average wage of $39 per month, the lowest in the world. Workers used to stay late and work during holidays, or they would be fired or fail to be paid. After the fire 4 Made in Bangladesh- The Fifth Estate 5 Made in Bangladesh- The Fifth Estate 6 Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books.

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incident, there was pressure on the government to regulate textile factories. Workers faced pressure to be productive; they were abused physically, denied maternity leaves, and discouraged from taking bathroom breaks. Most unions in Bangladesh were blasted by employers with verbal and physical abuse. Unions were also banned in the processing zones in Bangladesh to enhance a favorable business environment. Most factories care about maximizing profits rather than the well-being of their workers. They would cut costs by ignoring safety issues failing to pay overtime, sanitation, failing to pay for injuries, and ventilation in their factories. 7 . It is difficult for the Bangladesh government to make regulations because revenue obtained from global organizations is more than the country’s GDP. Global Labour Regime in China International brands in China have unethical buying practices that lead to substandard working conditions in their supply chains. 13 workers wanted to commit suicide at Foxconn production company, which caused a crisis for the company. 8 . Then, immigrant workers lost their lives while three sustained severe injuries. After this incident, the Chinese government became cautious of the economic model that chose economic growth over dignity. The company used abusive methods to increase its efficiency, and suicide by the immigrants was a reflection of their actual job at the company. Chinese officials and international agencies come together to strip workers of their rights and welfare. Government policies and international and domestic capital 7 Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books. 8 Chan, Jenny, and Ngai Pun. "Suicide as protest for the new generation of Chinese migrant workers: Foxconn, global capital, and the state." The Asia-Pacific Journal 37, no. 2 (2010): 1-50.

caused competitiveness in Chinese wages. Due to the state development plans, many people left rural areas for coastal and urban areas to look for jobs. The government encourages these movements through its poverty alleviation projects. Most international brands significantly influence manufacturers they contract to manufacture their products. 9 . Foxconn produces iPods and iPhones for Apple, and buyers want the products manufactured faster to meet their global demands. Foxconn competes against other global companies, and to meet the demand, it minimizes its costs and puts pressure on its workers. Due to the company's low-profit margins, employees experience long working hours with repetitive work and low wages. Most employees only stopped working to eat and sleep and had to submit to the management's scrutiny to make ends meet. Even after employees continued taking their lives through suicide, Foxconn company claimed that their employee treatment was world-class. During media interviews, the company claimed it provided employees with a better environment and other benefits. The China Labor Watch claimed that employee suicide was not associated with Foxconn's management, salaries, or working conditions. Foxconn established a 24-hour care center and stress release rooms to cater to the well-being of the employees. There are reported cases of exploitation, violence, and abuse by security personnel at Foxconn company. Yunnan jumped from the 12 th floor after being accused of stealing from the company, whereby he was allegedly beaten and humiliated by Foxconn security guards. Foxconn maintains confidentiality with its buyers and has private security officers for that reason. The company acknowledges that any leak of business information would result in business losses. 9 Chan, Jenny, and Ngai Pun. "Suicide as protest for the new generation of Chinese migrant workers: Foxconn, global capital, and the state." The Asia-Pacific Journal 37, no. 2 (2010): 1-50.

Buyers would not buy from Foxconn if they knew what workers were being exploited to meet the demand. According to the Chinese government, regular working hours should be eight hours, but Foxconn workers were in the company till 9 p.m. Most of the young immigrants were disappointed after leaving home to come and work for Foxconn, and they ended up committing suicide. Conclusion The Global labor regime is responsible for governing labor standards around the world. The global labor regime was fueled by globalization, capitalism, and the free borders in some nations. The global labor regime has negative consequences due to inequality and lack of proper enforcement in some countries. Developing countries are the primary victims of the global labor regime. Workers in developing countries face poor working conditions, low wages, physical abuse, and harassment, and they don't receive any working benefits. Progressive reforms need to be conducted on the existing labor reforms. Governments in developing countries need to work towards protecting their citizens against harsh working environments and payment. Multinational corporations should also be responsible and conduct field checkups of where their clothes are made. They should ensure contracted factories adhere to human rights and provide proper working conditions.

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Bibliography Chan, Jenny, and Ngai Pun. "Suicide as protest for the new generation of Chinese migrant workers: Foxconn, global capital, and the state." The Asia-Pacific Journal 37, no. 2 (2010): 1-50. Jones, R. (2016). Violent borders: Refugees and the right to move . Verso Books. Made in Bangladesh- The Fifth Estate. https://youtu.be/onD5UOP5z_c

The Global Regime.edited

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