Samsung and Apple’s working conditions aren’t the best in the world. There’s no getting around this. But this doesn’t necessarily mean I would give up my iPhone for it and it doesn’t mean that we haven’t seen this before in America.
Many Americans have jobs with similar working conditions. Standing for 12 hours a day is NOTHING for adults. That’s what most Americans in the food industry do every day. I know I’m on my feet at least 9 straight hours most work days and I have pulled 12 hour shifts. This is nothing to be shocked over at all. If you can’t stand up for that long, you’re a pansy. It’s much better than seeing most Americans sitting around on their fat asses in a cubicle and contributing to an unhealthy, sedentary lifestyle.
Secondly, overtime hours being forced are workers isn’t unheard of. This definitely isn’t fair, but it happens to American workers as well. According to an issue of Game Informer, workers of the gaming company Rockstar Games have been put through similar overtime situations numerous times. During the rushes to finish games, the workers have been forced to work up to a 100 hours in a week. This trumps the 150 hours of overtime for Samsung workers. These harsh conditions have been repeatedly reported from the Rockstar Games.
Third is the issue of underage workers, there is no dodging the subject. Child labor is wrong and illegal. I don’t want to think that any child works a 12 hour shift to make me an iPhone that I take for granted.
Finally, on the issues of employee suicides and deaths from Samsung. If you kill yourself because you hate your job, why can’t you just quit? No one is forcing you to work there. There are possible extenuating circumstances and I am not educated 100% on China’s labor laws, but I’m pretty sure they have a little more of a choice in occupation.
I have mixed feelings about Samsung and Apple’s labor issues. Americans are put through similar working conditions in the States. If workers are unhappy where they work, they can just quit. This doesn’t mean we should hinder the advancement of technology because of the working conditions everyday Americans experience.
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