Sunday, April 22, 2007
Globalisation can be otherwise known as ‘ruthless international capitalism’, says Johan Norberg Nike means victory. It is hungered after by kids across the world. Nike is the symbol of the unacceptable triumph of global capital. A Nike is a shoe that simultaneously kicks people out of jobs in the West, and tramples on the poor in the Third World. They are sold for 100 times more than the wages of the people who make them.Nike has more than 500 contract factories around the world located in 45 different countries. Most of the factories are located in Asian Continent including countries like: China, India, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines, Malaysia, Korea and others. It spreads all over, not only in the US and becomes multi-national.
Today Nike has almost four times more workers in Vietnam than in the United States.
Working in a Nike factory in Vietnam is tough, and the conditions are poor, comparing it to the factories in US. But the workers are more than satisfied. They compare the work at Nike with the way they lived before. In fact, the average pay at a Nike factory in Vietnam is $54 a month, almost three times more than other jobs in Vietnam.
Workers at the factory are considered rich. But the most important thing is that they do not have to work outdoors on a farm any more. Furthermore, the Nike job comes with a regular wage, with free or subsidised meals, free medical services and training and education. Foreign factories work well and produce much more. This is due to the privileges they get.
These facts make Nike sound more like Santa Claus. Howver in actual fact, corporations such as Nike don’t bring these benefits and wages because they are generous. It is globalisation. With their investments in poor countries, multinationals bring new machinery, better technology, new management skills and production ideas, a larger market and the education of their workers and these are what raises productivity. It benefits Nike instead. Moreover, lower costs are needed to have a factory in Vietnam than in the US.
This is another example whereby Nike comes into globalization.
About
Han Xinci
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A CULTURAL expert ;)
She knows about Globalization too!