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Posted on 12/21/2007 9:32:26 AM PST by kellynla
WASHINGTON – As consumer safety recalls of Christmas products made in China continue at a torrid pace, a new report shows the average Chinese worker making toys is paid a meager 36 cents an hour – just 2.5 percent of what U.S. toy manufacturers pay domestically.
Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the latest recall of a Christmas import – a holiday candle set that tips over and whose exterior coating is flammable. The snowman and Christmas tree candles were manufactured in China.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned the candles should not be used because of the fire hazard they pose. Instead, they should be returned to the retailer for a full refund.
Chinese-made toys accounted for 94 percent of the CPSC recalls this year. Most of the recalls were related to excessive and dangerous levels of lead used in cheap paints.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
However, the idea of “global fair wage”, and similar notions is usually tossed out by people seeking protectionism — to protect their own union jobs; or to protect their inefficient industry.
As others have pointed out, the purchasing power of money is far greater in China than it is in N. America (about 4 times as great, in fact). Therefore, the 36 cents buys what $1.50 would in the USA.
The per-capita GDP in China tanked under the Maoist Communists. It’s been growing at double-digit rates in recent years. Whether or not this emerging economic prosperity will lead to more democracy is an open question. If trade barriers were erected, such that the economic growth were ended or reversed; there’s no question that personal liberties would not advance further, and would probably be reduced.
If people want their country to erect trade barriers against China, in the belief that they would protect their jobs or industries; then they should just say so. At least an honest debate could ensue. It would just be deceitful to pretend to be compassionate about the foreign workers — while really just caring about themselves.
...and if we got rid of OSHA, the unions and frivolous lawsuits we’d be able to compete.
“So? Good for US consumers! (and apparently good for the chinese worker, as they choose to work there”
yeaaaaaaaa spoken like a true blue “hooray for me f you” LMAO
I hope none of the kids in your family dies from lead poisoning...
“if we got rid of OSHA, the unions and frivolous lawsuits we’d be able to compete.”
ooooooooooh, I competed for 25 years before I retired...
and there are plenty of other companies in America who not only compete but make “better mousetraps.”
LOL
The article states the facts
The Chicoms & American companies are screwing the Chinese.
It’s not rocket science. LOL
I agree with the “better mousetraps” statement. The problem is, not many people can’t afford the “better mousetrap.”
The article states that Chinese workers are being paid $0.36 an hour. That's a fact. What's not a fact is that Chinese and American companies are screwing them. These are above average wages in China for that type of work. If these companies weren't there, Chinese workers would be either be unemployed or making lower wages.
What would you define as not getting screwed? Having UAW wage scales that result in the entire Chinese toy industry getting shut down? Not being screwed = being unemployed?
are you kidding...folks can “afford” anything they want...that’s why we invented the credit card. LOL
you can buy MADE IN USA jeans for 50 bucks and wear them for years and years or you can buy MADE IN CHINA jeans for 20 bucks and replace them every year.
Yep.
But truthfully, quality is not important to most/many people. They don’t know how to judge it, recognize it or care for it.
Its not about a 'fair wage' there are two things I think we should strive for. (1) Make sure the people in nations we do business with are free... That way they can elect their own governments to fix things. (2) That we don't allow American industries to be completely destroyed sure let the buggy whip folks go but textiles? manufacturing? I prefer tariffs which would put the quality of the products in competition not lock out products.
As others have pointed out, the purchasing power of money is far greater in China than it is in N. America (about 4 times as great, in fact). Therefore, the 36 cents buys what $1.50 would in the USA.
Not that Im tied up on numbers but 1.50 an hour is less than a paperboy makes here and is making about 4,000 dollars a year (assuming youre working 40).
Here I am! What's their alternative?
I remember a number of years back when Kathy Lee Gifford and Wal Mart (I think it was Wal Mart) were under attack over the so-called sweatshops in Honduras that were employing women and children.
What those attacks conveniently left out was the fact that the children working there had absolutely no access to school facilities and the only alternative form of employment was to pick up a machete and head out to the sugar cane fields.
I've been there, I've seen it and my brother-in-law's family employs those same workers who are supplied by the sugarcane processing plants in the fall when harvesting is ready........The textile "sweat shops" are heaven compared to the alternative.
Thats just the way it is........
The subject is wages, not slavery.
The people of china *are* slaves to the government. Make no mistake just because they pay you does not make you free.
Multiply the wages by 10, and slavery is still slavery. Cut in half, and free market wages are free market wages.
I agree..
Where is the evidence that wage arbitrage is the result of work in a sweat shop?
The photos of Chinese toy manufacturers I’ve seen were clean and modern looking.
How’s that?
A novelty! A Christmas tree candle that mimicks the real thing! it burns!
There is NO arbitration in a Chinese place of employment. If you don't work or you complain, mei wenti, eight are waiting in line to REPLACE you at a lower rate.
"The photos of Chinese toy manufacturers I’ve seen were clean and modern looking."
Been to a Chinese factory lately and been beyond the "front room"? It's called the "front room" for a reason...
......arbitrage......arbitration....
Not the same. Arbitrage is trading on the basis of different prices of a commodity in different places. The commodity in this case is labor.
As you noted,in China labor is plentiful where as in America it is scarce. Hence the arbitrage
You suppose the poor little tykes should be fired then?
"Go starve and die in the street, little tyke, but at least you ain't being exploited."
Brilliant.
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