A post is making rounds in Chinese blogsphere that demonstrates why fair trade, not "free trade," is good for everyone. This link is from one of the major Chinese blog sites on sina. The same post is reposted all over the websites in China. The title of the post is "Working girls in China shout: Long live USA!" The story is that an American business made a purchase order attached with the conditions on workers' rights, environments. The Chinese factory obliged, resulting in greatly improved working conditions for the workers. Thus one purchase order won over many Chinese hearts.
Here is my rough translation of the post.
My business often brings me to the shoe manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta area. Most of those factories work on foreign orders. This morning I went to one of the factories. In the workshop I met a few aquaintances. Instead of their usual tired, tense appearances, they were all in good spirit. Some even gained weight. I was puzzled. Did they all get promotions or raises?
After conversation I learned that they had just recently received an order from an American company. A very large order that they would work for a long time. There is a possibility of a long term relationship.
Me: But what has that to do with you? Any profit is for the boss.
Workers: You don't know. We usually have to work til 11 or 12 in the night. We hardly get even one day off in a whole month. Even with all the overtime pay, we only get 800 to 1000 yuan per month. After deducting for room, utilities, and food, we actually only get 400 or 500 yuan. Especially putting in overtime day after day, year after year, makes us all worn out and frustrated. And overtime pay is pitifull...
Me: But I see on your office walls there are union rules. Doesn't your union stand up for your rights?
Workers: Are you talking about Chinese union? The chairperson of the union is boss's wife. The union is only for the inspections. We didn't expect, recently after getting the American order, our workers' rights were defended by the American!
Me: How?
Workers: The American client first inspected our work environment. They then requested that:
- All hazardous (mainly poisoness chemicals) work environment must be refitted. Workers must be provided protection gears. They used very calm languages. It was different than on TV. The boss obediently agreed to everything. All changes were done in a few days. Honestly, before he just didn't want to spend the money.
- No more than 24 work days per month, workers' pay not lower than $100.
- Overtime per month not to exceed 24 hours. Overtime pay at least $1.20 per hour.
- The factory has no past record of delayed wage payment in the past. Each month wages must be paid within 5 days of designated payday.
- If any of the above are violated then the contract is terminated immediately and the factory is responsible for all losses incurred.
The boss is not willing to pay such a high overtime pay. So now we don't need to work overtime any more.
Don't you agree that they (the foreign devils) are our working class's saviors?
So we are all shouting "Long live USA!" "Long live American devils!"
Wow. Imagine that! Fair trade is not only fair to us, it's also fair to them. More importantly, it's the right thing to do!