2$ a day and back breaking work: The grass isnt always greener on the other side

Pietra Rivoli’s speech was based on her discoveries while scribing the novel, “The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy.” In this speech she dives into the major issues plaguing the textile and cotton industry from a global perspective. She is an equal opportunity textile industry basher for all countries from the US to China. While some of the technology has changed throughout the textile time period, one factor remains static, labor. Pietra Rivoli mentioned that machines and even monkeys have tested to replace humans but none have succeeded. From American slaves to Chinese women with no other choices, the textile industry has been sucking the life out of its workers. Miss Rivoli speaks about the oppressive slave masters in America and the sweltering hot conditions of Chinese textile industries. But even at the current time when these factories conditions are way sub par, I wonder, are these atrocious conditions better than the next best alternative? The current economic conditions in the US have had a direct and profound impact on the textile industry in China. As a result demand is down and over 700,000 jobs have already been lost according to the wsj.com article. These indivudals, “, mainly women, earn about $2 a day.” (Sheth wsj.com) Now, I would never in the world think about working an hour, let alone a day for $2, but to these women it is better than nothing. The quality of living is lower in China and many people can survive on this low pay for backbreaking work. Now that they lost their jobs, who knows what will happen and if they cant afford to put meals on a table that may not exist any longer. These individuals are longing for the opportunity to command their stations in the textile factories. I understand that the conditions and pay are horrendous, but they are employing millions of workers who otherwise may not have any source of income and that cannot be a bad thing. The textile industry “contributed 4% of India's gross domestic product in the year that ended March 31.” (Sheth wsj.com). These workers and this industry is the backbone of the Chinese economy. Yes these workers should be paid more and yes they should have better working conditions, but I ask you what is the next best alternative for these workers? Also, while activists and celebrities in America scoff at the idea of cheap labor, they are the ones purchasing name brand clothing produced by children and sweatshops. “The decisions they made – shifting textiles to low-wage nations, using some lower quality fabrics, laying off employees, and moving to less expensive warehouse and office space – are the sorts of decisions that businesses all over the world are making these days. The most agile will survive. The effects will ripple around the world economy” (Binkley wsj.com). According to Binkley, vast ranges of designers are seeking out cheap materials to keep the prices of their clothes down. These activists who think they are holier than tho point fingers at the companies and at people who purchase these goods, but the thing is they are too! This epidemic cannot be escaped. I do not necessarily think people should embrace these conditions but they should take a look at the alternatives because the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. At the end of the day I believe there should be more strict regulations concerning textile factory working conditions and pay but I also am realistic and can understand that the other options for these millions of workers are not much better than what they have now.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122990332938125097.html

http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2009/02/11/trimming-more-than-fabric-to-stay-afloat/