...Taiwan provide access to readily abundant cheap labor. These corporations could now reap the benefit of the United States consumer market, while keeping their costs extremely low in offshore production. The media has awakened the public to this fact and several prominent corporations have come under fire lately for the malpractices. The term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical-mental development. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children, and interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. There are an estimated 186 million child laborers worldwide. The 2001 national census of India estimated total number of child labor aged 5–14 to be at 12.6 million. Small-scale and community-based studies have found estimated prevalence of 12.6 million children engaged in hazardous occupations. The culture icon of Nike has been the corporation most under fire since the media outburst. Nike has had child labor accusations since the 90s with a regular resurgence of the same controversies at regular time intervals. The CEO has been adamant about fixing the problems after the 2005 scandal for the world cup balls made by child laborers surfaced in Pakistan...
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...Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies Contemporary Business BUS 508 Dr. Melinda Swigart January 18, 2015 Abstract This paper will examine Apple’s current position in regards to ethical and social responsibilities. The leadership under Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak has built this empire with great success and long term relationships. The violations that they have endured have strengthened their moral and ethical fundamentals. I have identified Apple’s current position and the background of this huge empire. The paper will also introduce the methods used for their success and overall advertising strategies: that has enhanced product sales. The loyalty of their customers and continued growth has factored in significantly increasing new product development. Apple’s contribution to this world has made them a well-known corporation. Introduction Apple Corporation Steve Job co-founder of Apple Computer alongside with Steve Wozniak pioneered a cycle of revolutionary technologies. In 1980, Apple Inc. had a market value of $1.2 billion during their first day of trading. Apple Inc., formerly Apple Computer, Inc., is a conglomerate corporation that creates consumer electronics, computer software, and commercial servers. Apple’s foundation lines are the iPad, iPhone, iPod music player, and Macintosh computer line-up. The founder’s s Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak effectively created Apple Computer on April 1, 1976, with the release...
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...There was a internal audit that was conducted on Apple, they found that 106 children were working at more than 10 factories creating Apple products in the past year alone according to The Guardian. (n.d.). Hiring children means that the child labor laws are being violated. Also this is morally wrong and not for the greater good of the people. Apple conducted an investigation on it's suppliers. The result of that investigation was unexpected. They found out that children were being recruited using fake identity papers. Child labor is obvious because of the harsh working conditions provided by Apple. Most of the children worked for Chinese companies that made supplies for apple. The children were under the age of 16; they employed about 74 children out of the 106 total according to The Guardian. (n.d.). Most of the cases are from 2013, and total there have been 70 companies in Apple's supply chain that have employed children according to The Guardian. (n.d.). There has been a host of other events happening when the whistle was blown so to speak. There have been cases of workers committing suicide, and also deadly explosions at some of the supply chains. This is relevant because workers slowly began to figure out that children were being used for labor, and these were some of the consequences. The children had to lift heavy equipment, and some of them were subject to pregnancy tests as well. If the children got into trouble while working they would be punished by having their pay...
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...three individuals have something to lose. Lou and Jose will have the most to lose because both of them are the main controllers in the business. In order for the sports bar to open they first need to obtain a liquor license and a license to sell food on the premises. They will have to meet and pass all requirements set forth from their local Health Department. They will need to have both of the licenses in clear view for all patrons to see. They will also have to go to a food handling class as well as an alcohol management class. All employees that they hire will also have to attend and pass these classes before being able to work in the sports bar. Lou and Jose will also have to hire security to protect them from serving alcohol to underage individuals and to protect the other patrons of the sports bar. It is imperative that Lou and Jose hire trustworthy individuals to work for them so that their sports bar can be successful. Extermination Business Frank, who wants to open a chain of exterminating business across the United States, will open them up under a sole proprietorship. A sole proprietor...
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...Commercial Construction, a Michigan based company looking to expand its business to Arizona and increase its current 650 workforce by 20% both companies will be required to adhere to laws that govern the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) protects employees against three employment related mandates compromised of minimum wage overtime, child labor and equal pay for men and women. The mandates outlined in the FSLA apply to employers regardless of company size and number of employees. Both organization are US based companies so employment laws are synonymous each must comply with the Child Labor Act that mandates employers abide by legal restrictions of employing those under the age 18. The act affords protection to underage employees in terms...
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...Business Ethics Case Analysis: Apple Finds Human Rights Violation In Supply Chain. Using the 7-step model of Hartman & DesJardins, which helps examining the Impact of individual characteristics and organisational policies on ethical decisions. I will review an article written by the journalist Chilton Tippin on February 17, 2011, discussing the situation that many employees are experiencing, when working with organisations, where their moral rights are not met. According to the article, Surprisingly 8 months after the scandal suicides at Foxxcon’s Shenzhen factory in China, apple continues finding events where human rights are violated. For the first instance “Human rights violations”, would be the main ethical issue surrounding the case, “however”, I consider indispensable starting the research by firstly giving a clear definition on ethics and the importance of its application in business. Besides from identifying the problem of the case and knowing who is fighting against whom, an analysis of the stakeholders is going to be completed to understand what does the organisation mean for the stakeholder and vice versa. Next process would be weighing the options and finding the available alternative routes of action, while searching how they might affect the stakeholders, this with the use of ethical theories to support each of my arguments. Seek guidance would be the next process on the decision making model, which consist in identifying rules and norms setting initiatives on...
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...personal opinion about what I think about the subject and what legal recourse might be readily available to remedy the situation. Labor/Rights Violations Human rights and labor violations have and will continue worldwide due to the extenuating needs of individuals to care for their families and the greed of the everyday businessman to save or turn an easy dollar. These violations are not only found in third world countries as the United States is just as guilty when it comes to hiring children to carry out work that is often unsafe and illegal. Although many view child labor and human rights violations as a scourge plaguing the business field, some of the people that choose or are forced into such unfair practices do it as a means to help support the family unit or to try and make it out of the belly of poverty. United States (Child Labor) In May 2008 a Kosher meatpacking plant was raided by the state labor investigators and found to have 57 underage workers, some as young as 13 all illegal immigrants from Guatemala working in their plant. The workers were forced to work up to 17 hours a day often without overtime pay, being exposed to chemicals and being forced to use saws and knives which according to Iowa law are prohibited unless the worker is 18 years old. The workers openly admitted that they applied for the jobs using false documentation but the State said it was the responsibility of the business to ensure the workers documentation was...
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...dedicates its social corporate responsibilities in regards to a plethora of policies and governance in regards to: labor practices that builds the dynamics of employment and labor relations, employee benefits and workplace safety; supply chain management, strategic management regarding customer, legal compliance Apple defines the employment governance structure in the Supplier Code of Conduct and Ethics covering labor and human rights, health and safety, the environment, and ethics and management systems. Apple obliges its suppliers to respect the human rights of its workers, to inform the workers of their rights, and to treat them with dignity and respect. Apple requires from its suppliers that they prevent discrimination, involuntary and underage labor, excessive working hours and that they pay workers with wages and benefits in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. Apple implemented and enforced a strict Suppliers Code of Conduct to regulates and aligns suppliers internal operations; Apple have created a uniformed standard aimed at ensuring that suppliers maintains the same level of principles and value that its holds dear and true across it 18 final assembly facilities, over 764 suppliers, components manufacturers and those that represents at least 97% of its raw material sourcing and procurement worldwide. Apple states that the company “conducts business ethically, honestly, and in full compliance with all laws and regulations. This applies to every business...
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...along with most companies is buying products and services from these countries. Apple has taken some criticism for doing business with some of these countries. I am going to talk about Apples position on ethical and social responsibility Apple supplier (2014). Question #1 Apples current position is fair and ethical treatment to employees by ending excessive work hours and limiting workweeks to a 60 maximum. Empowering workers by giving training on safety, rights. Providing free classes on language, computers skills and other subjects. Apple also has polices on underage workers, they don’t except it. If there is an underage employee under Apples policy they will be returned to the school of the families chose and paid the wage of the employee while in school by the supplier. While the employee is in school Apple follows up on the employee to ensure they remain and finishes school. The company has an equal opportunity hiring policy, ensuring the suppliers do not discriminate against future employees. Their suppliers are also required to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Suppliers are required to have minimal impact and help with the local environment. If violations to polices are found Apple with works with the supplier to fix the discrepancies. Apple can have all these policies, but if the company doing the work doesn’t comply with them it...
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...to the actions and decisions of businesses and the conduct of their personnel * Are not materially different from ethical principles in general because business actions have to be judged in the context of society’s standards of right and wrong * Ethic behaviour in business requires adhering to generally accepted norms Why study ethics in business? * Ethical behaviour is simply the right thing to do. It is often prescribed within law and regulations * Ethical behaviour is demanded by customers, govt. and the news media. Unethical firms risk attracting unwanted attention * Ethical behaviour is good business, leading to enhanced corporate image and selling prospect. Firms with strong reputations have an advantage when hiring and motivating employees, partnering and dealing with foreign governments. * Related issues * Bribery (over US$1 trillion in bribes is paid around the world) * Kickbacks; illicit payment made to someone in return for facilitating a transaction or appointment or in exchange for help * Corruptions * Child labour * Sweatshop factories * Inappropriate gifts * Illicit use of intellectual property, piracy Challenges / failure / lapse | Remedies / response | Corruption | Obeying laws and regulations | Bribery and grease payments | Corporate governance |...
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...groups, and organized labor in the mid-eighties, the anti-sweatshop movement became a major force by early nineties in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other industrially advanced countries. Global companies were under fire for operating factories with working conditions that violated basic human rights and labor laws in terms of wages and working conditions. Instances of worker exploitation and employment of underage workers were widespread. Mattel was in the middle of all of this and had also taken steps to respond to public concerns with regard to sweatshop-like conditions and worker exploitation in toy manufacturing factories in China and other developing countries. These efforts were quite similar to those of other industries in that codes of conduct were created with tremendous fanfare but with insufficient effort to improve and monitor actual working conditions in those factories. I will show how Mattel attempted “to do the right thing” and put virtue ethics like fairness, honesty and justice to work but in the end fell short. Fairness Children learn early on what they...
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...Industrialization after the Civil War Monyea Anthony Professor Adam McBride History 105: Contemporary U.S. History August 3, 2014 The industrialization after the civil war had affected American in different ways. Industrialization influenced the U.S society by the number of employed children under the age of 15 were increasing when children were suppose to be getting an education but instead are working underage. The steel and oil industries fueled the growth of the American economy. U.S. politics were influenced by the industrialization by creating laws that prohibited many immigrants from obtaining their freedom and rights. The three major aspects that influenced U.S. society, economy, and politics during the industrialization were first the types of employment of geographical region. Workers in the south primarily farmed. The women in both the rural and urban areas engaged in paid labor inside and outside the homes. There work was occupied with the work they traditionally performed on the farms before the industrialization. The south had little to none manufacturing capability in which cotton was one of the most valuable exports in the south. The north was already exposed to the industry and was highly industrialized. The pace of the working industry of...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...China Labor Watch 147 W 35 TH Phone: 212-244-4049 Fax: 212-244-4146 E-mail: clw@chinalaborwatch.org ST STE 406 New York, NY 10001 Code of Conduct is No More than False Advertising, Disney Suppliers Continue Exploiting Chinese Workers By China Labor Watch November 10, 2010 While every effort will be made to keep the materials accurate and up-to-date, China Labor Watch is not personally responsible for accuracy and currency. This report contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this report. SOME RIGHTS RESERVED. 2010 Content Summary.......................................................................................................................................................................3 Yiuwah Accident .........................................................................................................................................................3 Disney Consumer Products .........................................................................................................................................4 “Cut and Run” ..............................................................................................................................................................5 Establishment of “Code of Conduct” .........................................................................................................................6 Production...
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