Exploitation : GAP Incorporated

Gap is known for its good quality clothing and many people buy their merchandise, including myself. Ever since a young Gap Inc has been a store of choice, till recently i heard in the news that GAP Incorporated has been caught having sweatshops in India. It was very shocking to hear that a company with a good history and reputation, be involved an a scandal of children exploitation. According to Cnn, about 40 kids where sold to the company by their parents in exchange of a fee. Most kids worked about 16 hours a day with no pay and If they refused to work they where going to be punished said a 12 year old kid whose name wasn't revealed. They where forced to produce a hand-stitched blouse for the Christmas line. The President of the company said that he wasn't aware of the sweatshop or the exploitation in one of its factories. From my point of view, the president is trying to keep the companies good reputation. But after this report i will never buy from a Gap clothing store.


After the scandal hit the media , Gap the company did not close its factory saying that "employees working there will be deprived of its income." But in the other hand Gap has decided to compensate the children and their families for all the suffering they went through.
Lawyer Bhuwan Ribhu blames the Indian government for not monitoring the situation,something must be done for this issue to not repeat. Gap has taken the issue into consideration and it has acted in a positive way by paying back for the damages. Gap will be from now on monitored and hopefully children labor wont occur again.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/29/gap.labor/index.html

What is Child Labor

Child labor is the employment of children in areas that can harm or exploite them in any possible way (physically or mentally). Accodring to UNICEF "There is approximately about 250 children that are child laborers". There is a high percentage of kids from the age of 15 and under that are exploited and work a full time job. Most childrens are not lucky enough to attend school or have a childhood like us because they are forced to work full time to pay off debts or to make enough money to survive. This is a world wide epidemic and it has become a greater problemthroughout the years due to the increase of overpopulation.poverty,etc. Many countries do not have a rigid economic system like the United States, there is alot of corrupted countries and children are the major ones who suffer.



reference
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01908/800/whatisit_childlabor.htm

Causes of child labor

Child labor has become a issue around the world but especially in Third world countries in Africa ,Asia,South America because of Over population, poverty, and exploitation.






*Over population-Africa and Asia are the most populated continents in the world. The rate of new born babies increases every year. Accodring to 'Virginia Abernethy', she believes that women are not being careful and not avioding pregnancy. Since there is a lot of poverty in this countries there is no type of birth control or contraceptives, that will stop over population from occurring. It increases the possobility of women getting pregnant. But in other hand countries like Rwanda ,"men won't accept their wives to use contraception and believe they should have up to 8 children. Contraceptives will only make their wives weak and won't be able to work" said Vestine Mukamunana (in a NY Times article). The rates of fertility have not gone down in Rwanda or countries in Africa and Asia. This has become and epidemic problem and most parents are forced to make their children work to be able to survive and not die of malnutrition. According to the article if woman don't use contraceptives by 2010 the population in this continent will increase drastically and will be putting children out of and education and becoming a full time child laborer.

Reference:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3D81238F932A05756C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1






*Poverty-From my point of view the biggest reason why children are forced to work full time is because of Poverty. Most countries economy is down the drain and parents are not able to get a decent salary to maintain there family. It becomes very difficult for parents because most children can't depend on themselves and need to be fed, sheltered,etc . According to an article found online it says"Children when young cannot be anything other than a cost to a family economy." I agree ,the average salary for a person in a day can range from a dollar to a couple cents in most third world countries. With that type of salary a family wont be able to survive and it limits a children from its education,childhood, and have no other choice to help their family by working hard for a couple cents. A representative of the Asian Development Bank said "that Asia is the poorest continent in the world, and about 900 million people are poor. " It is very sad to hear that poverty can not be eliminated and children wont have to suffer and be able to get an education. unfortunately the reality is poverty will always exist and children in third world countries will have to suffer and we just hope that funds like (ADB) can help make a change.

Reference
http://www.faqs.org/childhood/Wh-Z-and-other-topics/Work-and-Poverty.html
http://www.adb.org/documents/policies/prf/prf_100.asp







*Exploitation- Many corporations seem to care about the money and will go beyond its limits to stay wealthy and powerful. If this means by expoliting children just to make a big profit,it is garunteed to be done. Most well known American corporations, establish sweatshops or factories in third world countries because the salary is way below compared to wealthier countries. Children have no other choice but to be used and exploited by corporations, or if not they will starve to death or live without a home. From a new times article Unicef said " that fewer than 1 in 20 make goods for export -- and those who do are the most fortunate working children." It seems very ignorant but its the truth,children who are being exploited by working in sweatshops are far beyond lucky. I agree that the corporations are stealing from children, but it provides a salary that will help them not die and survive.

Reference
http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ02189/businesses.htm
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E6DD1630F933A15751C0A9669C8B63

UNICEF And Efforts For A Change

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund or UNICEF ,was created on December 11, 1946 by the United Nation. It was build to serve as an aid for children during World War 2, but it became a permanent organization after the war. This organization has helped children through out the world especially in third world countries in Africa,Asia, etc from being harmed in any possible way. The organization receives money from governments or from private donors, in the year 2006 UNICEF were donated 2 billion dollars. With all the money that is donated, UNICEF tries to make a good cause and help make a change in a kids life for it can have a better future. UNICEF offers all type of help;from providing clean water and sanitation,vaccination against all type of childhood illness, and education. The oragnization is known to be the most successful with long history of great achievements and expectations. As also the only sign of hope to a neglected poor child.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html





WATER AND SANITATION

Water is the most fundamental part of surviving in a humans life, everyone needs water for the body system to function and not die of dehydration. About 1 billion people have no access to water in the world and millions of kids die because of the lack of water. As also the limited proper sanitation available in third world countries . Most children are forced to work in bad conditions, and the consequences is catching any type of maligning disease. Over the years UNICEF as made a commitment to provide safe water and sanitation to children and their families. Most of all in third world countries that regardless of working hard to make money cant afford to have these type of resources. The organization hand out "rehydration salts" to children suffering with illness and dehydration caused by contaminated water and an unsafe environment. As also giving out "hygiene kits" to shield children from any type of diseases from harming them. The ability of obtaining clean water, its not only saving lives but also giving a child a safe disease free life.


http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html



HEALTH AND IMMUNIZATION

As any normal child immunization shots is very important to protect it from not catching any deadly virus or disease that will cause death. Most third world countries are not able to provide children with immunization shots and it puts a great risk of death on children. UNICEF has been working since 1947 ,becoming world wide leader on immunization shots and today it provides about 40% of the world every year and saving a child's life from deadly diseases.
UNICEF provides vaccines from diseases like measles, polio, or tuberculosis. As also preventing from a child getting malaria,by providing mosquito nets. It is very benefitial , it decreases the chance of a child getting infected with malaria and will not cause risks of death. The most positive aid done by UNICEF from my point of view is have maternal homes to young mothers that have no place to stay due to the fact that their parents sold them. UNICEF believes that they can make a change by providing all this aid and that someday they can make a change and unite to continuesly follow the tradition of fighting for children.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html

EDUCATION
The most important factor for a child to have a good future is to have an education . Children in third world countries are not able to have an education due to poverty,and are forced to work to survive and support their families. Education is not something a child looks forward too, even though every child has the right to an education. Education is the only exit to poverty said UNICEF, most parents where never educated they where exploited and abused and taught to work in 14 hour job to support their family. They feel their role of parent is the same and that their kids doesn't need school and working is the only way out. But UNICEF believes if they provide education to children, they can make a change and someday child labor would not be an option at all. For that reason UNICEF provides schools all over the world no matter the circumstances. For example schools in Ethiopia,where it migrates with the nomadic community or reading centers for girls in Afghanistan regardless of girls being forbidden to learn. UNICEF will not stop till every child gets an education they deserve

http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_childlabour.html

Child Labor in the United States

In the state of Iowa investigators found 57 under age workers who were employed at a meatpacking plant. It has brought alot of controversy and problems to the meatpacking plant for the exploitation of children. It is a surprise to hear that child labor still exist within the United States, I thought that it was over a long time ago. Investigators said that most of the children that were employed in the meatpacking company are illegal immigrants between the ages of 11 -17. Elmer L, a child laborer from Guatemala said "he was kicked by an Agriprocessors supervisor, causing one of his knives to cut his elbow". How can someone be so cruel to hit an innocent child who is struggling to make money to support himself. The immigrant employees where prosecuted on criminal doucment fraud but the charges where droped and they are awaiting deportation. The company faces criminal charges as well and if found guilty it could be given fines up to a million dollars. This has become very big case in Iowa and the residents and authority are doing everything possible to stop child labor from spreading out in the corporation world in the United States.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/us/06meat.html