...Of all the topics that cause debate across the United States, there seems to be one that can always be debated without end; whether or not increasing the federal minimum wage is actually beneficial to our country and its residents. “Minimum wage is defined as the lowest amount that employers can legally pay their workers per hour of labor” (History and Debate of Minimum Wage). Most jurisdictions have laws that enforce a minimum wage; however there are benefits as well as disadvantages to this type of policy. Minimum wage laws were initially established to reduce poverty and are upheld with particular goals in mind. Those who support minimum wage laws generally believe that these objectives are being sufficiently achieved, which is enough jurisdiction to maintain the laws. Those who are opposed the minimum wage laws usually believe that it harms less skilled workers and raises unemployment (History and Debate of Minimum Wage). There are many pros from the side that is in favor of raising the minimum wage. An increase in the minimum wage would create more job opportunities because it would cause minimum wage employees to spend more leading to an increase in earnings among businesses and requiring them to hire more employees to keep up with their increase in sales. Raising the minimum wage would also allow some people who rely on additional support from the government to be able to support themselves better without being as dependent on social programs. This would ultimately lead...
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...cultural, and ethical challenges that confront Nike’s global business are child labor laws, wages, and outsourcings of manufacturing. Nike sweatshop labor case like those described in “Nike: The Sweatshop Debate” has agitated a large sum of controversy over business ethics. The first case illustrates how Nike has inadvertly managed to oversee that those companies they subcontract do not follow international labor laws, including those pertinent to the country the employees are working from. An example is the employee Lap, interviewed in the article. The employee is exploited, “Her basic wage, even as sewing team leader, still doesn’t amount to the minimum wage . . . . She’s down to 85 pounds. Like most of the young women who make shoes, she has little choice but to accept the low wages and long hours. Nike says that it requires all subcontractors to obey local laws; but Lap has already put in much more overtime than the annual legal limit: 200 hours.” Another evident situation that challenges business ethics is the cultural depreciation in the countries where Nike contracts with manufacturer subcontractors. Countries like China and Indonesia close to non-existent labor laws, “The majority of Nike shoes are made in Indonesia and China, countries with governments that prohibit independent unions and set the minimum wage at rock bottom. The Indonesian government admits that the minimum wage there does not provide enough to supply the basic needs of one person, let alone a family...
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...Professor Bajwa 13 November 2013 Against Raising Minimum Wage In my opinion, more people are hurt by a minimum wage increase than are helped by it. Increasing the minimum wage helps some low wage workers in the short run but is detrimental to the majority of society in the long run. An increase in the minimum wage helps some low wage workers in the short run. If a worker earned less than the new minimum wage, it is beneficial to them to get an increase in their hourly wage, as long as the prices of goods and services stays the same and the company they work for is not forced to downsize. In spite of a temporary benefit to one group of workers, an increase in the minimum wage is harmful to several other groups. Employers, some low wage employees, and society as a whole are hurt by the increase. Employers are harmed by an increase in the minimum wage. The increase causes a company’s cost of operation to go up. Higher input prices decrease a company’s profits. Because of the higher cost of labor, an employer cannot employ as many workers. This causes a decrease in the company’s productivity, which also decreases their profits. Small businesses especially have a difficult time accommodating increases in minimum wage because they do not have as large of a budget to work with. Some low wage workers lose their jobs as a result of an increase in minimum wage. The company they work for may decide to let some of their low wage employees go to offset the increase in the cost...
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...Minimum wage is one of the number one issues in America. There are debates on whether minimum wage needs a raise or stay the same. The current minimum wage in California is $10.50 per hour. Most people that work under minimum wage work more than 60 hours a week. Those people that work under minimum wage are most likely to live in poverty. People can not earn a living on minimum wage. This is why minimum wage needs to be raised. One reason minimum wage needs a raise is because it leads to a healthier population and less premature deaths. Over the past few years, fast food prices drop while the healthier food prices increase. The author states that in “many poverty-dense regions, people are unable to access affordable healthy food, even when...
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...CASE ANALYSIS NIKE THE SWEATSHOP DEBATE Summary of the Facts Nike was established in 1972 by former University of Oregon track star Phil Knight. ... Nike has $10 billion in annual revenues and sells its products in 140 countries. ... Nike has been dogged for more than a decade by repeated accusations that its products are made in sweatshops where workers, many of them children, slave away in hazardous conditions for less than subsistence wages. ... Many reporters, TV shows, companies and organizations have repeatedly exposed negative comments towards Nike. For example, a “48 Hours” news report aired on October 17, 1996 regarding a Nike factory in Vietnam, which was visited by reporter Roberta Baskin. The reporter discovered that Nike hired millions of workers who are literate, disciplined, and desperate for jobs at wages lower than minimum wage. Another example of the criticism against Nike came from a newsletter published by Global Exchange. The newsletter uncovered that the majority of Nike shoes were made in Indonesia and China, countries with governments that prohibit independent unions and set the minimum wage at rock Nike: The Sweatshop Debate The purpose and intent of this paper is to describe the legal, cultural, and ethical challenges that face the Nike Corporation in their global business ventures. This paper will also touch on the roles of the host government and countries where Nike manufactures their products and the author will summarize the strategic and operational...
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...Introduction This critical literature review will focus on the impact of the National Minimum Wage on employment. This is an area we have had to familiarise ourselves with more and more throughout the last ten years because of the controversial effect of its instalment in April 1999 and its ever increasing minimum wage amount which causes most concern. The application of a few statistics should help summarise the ever increasing minimum wage and the sheer scale of people affected by its introduction. The national minimum wage has increased by a staggering 59% in the last ten years; from £3.60 in April 1999 to £5.73 in October 2008. (HRM, 2008) According to George Sayers Bain (1999) as from April 1999, the year of its instalment , “some two million low paid workers will gain. To put that into a different context is one in twelve employees; one in three house workers; one in five part time workers. The obvious reason for its introduction was to reduce poverty pay levels while at the same time decreasing the wage differentials of the minimum wage to the median wage of all workers. This is known as ‘the bite’ and is commonly used to assess the effectiveness of the minimum wage. (LPC, Low Pay Commission, 2007) As stated above the intention of this review is to firstly establish the effect of the National minimum wage on employment; justifying it as a positive, negative or mutual effect. Secondly to help incarcerate the purpose even more the retail sector will be focused on...
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...made by subcontractors in China, Vietnam, and Indonesia who are mainly woman under the age of 24. Nike stated in a memorandum that they will assume the responsibility of their subcontractor’s conformity to local laws, overtime, occupational health and safety standards, environmental protection, and minimum wage. Nike was scrutinized by 48 Hours and many other media outlets after 48 hours broke the story about terrible working conditions where Nike products are made. The media accused Nike of paying their workers under the local minimum wage, required workers to work overtime, encouraging and allowing ovetime hours above local law requirements. There were reports of workers being physically, verbally, and sexually abused in these factories. Workers were also exposed to toxic chemicals, heat, noise, and dust without proper safety regulations which violated local occupational health and safety requirements. After the allegations, Nike responded by saying the defendants statements were false and misleading. Nike and their defendants made these statements to newspapers, public relations, university presidents and athletic directors, and press releases. Nike even publicized a report conducted by Goodworks International, LLC., which found no evidence of illegal or unsafe working conditions at the Nike factories in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE: Marc Kasky is suing Nike on behalf of the general public of California for making false and misleading...
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...Introduction Minimum wage refers to the lowest hourly, daily or monthly wage an employee is legally entitled to when working. Minimum wage is in effect in a range of different jurisdictions with differences in the views on the advantages and disadvantages being disputed by people. Supporters claim minimum wage increases the standard of living for workers whilst reducing poverty. Opposite views are that if it is high enough to be effective then it increases unemployment, particularly among workers who are inexperienced or handicap, thus harming the lesser skilled workers to benefit the better skilled workers The effect on employment rates due to minimum wage rates is a highly contested policy within economics. The introduction of minimum wage into the market can lead to competitive employers cutting employment; this depends on the rate of the wage rises require to comply with the current minimum wage according to the “standard textbook model”. Other models have also been suggested in which a decline in the employment rate may not occur and in fact employment may increase. During my research I found a wide range of literature on minimum wages, particularly on the effects of a minimum wage policy in place. Though a lot of informative research was concluding I also found the argument between weather the effects and positive of negative on employment, both sides of the disagreement present a large amount of information supporting the theories. Research before the 1990’s mostly...
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...CASE ANALYSIS NIKE THE SWEATSHOP DEBATE Summary of the Facts Nike was established in 1972 by former University of Oregon track star Phil Knight. ... Nike has $10 billion in annual revenues and sells its products in 140 countries. ... Nike has been dogged for more than a decade by repeated accusations that its products are made in sweatshops where workers, many of them children, slave away in hazardous conditions for less than subsistence wages. ... Many reporters, TV shows, companies and organizations have repeatedly exposed negative comments towards Nike. For example, a “48 Hours” news report aired on October 17, 1996 regarding a Nike factory in Vietnam, which was visited by reporter Roberta Baskin. The reporter discovered that Nike hired millions of workers who are literate, disciplined, and desperate for jobs at wages lower than minimum wage. Another example of the criticism against Nike came from a newsletter published by Global Exchange. The newsletter uncovered that the majority of Nike shoes were made in Indonesia and China, countries with governments that prohibit independent unions and set the minimum wage at rock Nike: The Sweatshop Debate The purpose and intent of this paper is to describe the legal, cultural, and ethical challenges that face the Nike Corporation in their global business ventures. This paper will also touch on the roles of the host government and countries where Nike manufactures their products and the author will summarize the strategic and operational...
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...use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article. Visit www.nytreprints.com for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now. September 26, 2010 Wage Laws Squeeze South Africa’s Poor By CELIA W. DUGGER NEWCASTLE, South Africa — The sheriff arrived at the factory here to shut it down, part of a national enforcement drive against clothing manufacturers who violate the minimum wage. But women working on the factory floor — the supposed beneficiaries of the crackdown — clambered atop cutting tables and ironing boards to raise anguished cries against it. “Why? Why?” shouted Nokuthula Masango, 25, after the authorities carted away bolts of gaily colored fabric. She made just $36 a week, $21 less than the minimum wage, but needed the meager pay to help support a large extended family that includes her five unemployed siblings and their children. The women’s spontaneous protest is just one sign of how acute South Africa’s long-running unemployment crisis has become. With their own industry in ruinous decline, the victim of low-wage competition from China, and too few unskilled jobs being created in South Africa, the women feared being out of work more than getting stuck in poorly paid jobs. In the 16 years since the end of apartheid, South Africa has followed the prescriptions of the West, opening its market-based economy to trade...
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...University of Phoenix Material Nike: The Sweatshop Debate Nike is in many ways the quintessential global corporation. Established in 1972 by former University of Oregon track star Phil Knight, Nike is now one of the leading marketers of athletic shoes and apparel on the planet. Today the company has $20 billion in annual revenues and sells its products in some 140 countries. Nike does not do any manufacturing. Rather, it designs and markets its products, while contracting for their manufacture from a global network of 600 factories scattered around the globe that employ some 650,000 people.1 This huge corporation has made Knight into one of the richest people in America. Nike’s marketing phrase, “Just Do It!” has become as recognizable in popular culture as its “swoosh” logo or the faces of its celebrity sponsors, such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. For all of its successes, the company was dogged for more than a decade by repeated and persistent accusations that its products were made in “sweatshops” where workers, many of them children, slaved away in hazardous conditions for below-subsistence wages. Nike’s wealth, its detractors claimed, was built upon the backs of the world’s poor. For many, Nike had become a symbol of the evils of globalization—a rich Western corporation exploiting the world’s poor to provide expensive shoes and apparel to the pampered consumers of the developed world. Niketown stores became standard targets for antiglobalization protesters. Several...
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...The first topic I have chosen is “Should regulations for home schools be changed.” I chose this topic because there has been debates for years questioning the effectiveness of children whose parents have chosen to home school them. Excessive budget cuts to educational programs and overcrowded classrooms have led many parents to homeschooling. While many individuals feel that home school hinders students from learning at their grade level which ultimately withdraws social interaction with fellow peers, other individuals feel that home schools provide much needed structure that focuses on the child. The audience for this topic would be parents of school aged children who are thinking of homeschooling their children. The preliminary thesis statement for this topic is “State regulations for home schools should be changed to ensure at-risk children aren’t neglected, students are socially active in the community, and educators have access to adequate funding.” The two sources I plan to use are HSLDA and As Home School Numbers Rise, Regulations Fall an article from The Kansas City Star. The second topic I have chosen is “Should minors who commit violent crimes be tried as adults.” Chose this topic because violent crimes committed by juveniles is on the rise; and many of these crimes are being given a slop on the wrist because of the minors age at the time. Many of these juveniles become repeat offenders because the judicial system has not held them accountable for their actions....
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...Minimum wage in Hong Kong Table of Contents 1. Part 1: Minimum Wage law in Hong Kong 2 2. Introduction 2 3. Minimum Wage – Economic Theory 2 4. Introduction in Hong Kong – May 2010 3 5. Impacts – 15 months later 5 5.1. Employment 5 5.2. Firms profitability 6 5.3. Inflation 7 6. Economic cycle considerations 9 7. Part 2: Housing issues in Hong Kong 9 8. Introduction 9 9. Housing situation in Hong Kong 9 10. Housing Demand in Hong Kong 11 11. Housing supply in Hong Kong 14 12. The Current Government Policies 15 12.1. Policy 1: 15 12.2. Policy 2 16 12.3. Policy 3 16 13. Conclusion 17 14. Bibliography 18 Part 1: Minimum Wage law in Hong Kong Introduction The Hong Kong Government introduced of a Minimum Wage in Hong Kong in May 2011, in response to increased incomes disparity in the territory. It uses economic theory to predict certain impacts such as level of employment, profits of firms, inflation effect and potential positive effects on the economy in general. Minimum Wage – Economic Theory Economic theory tells us that when artificial price floors are introduced in the market, they force prices to remain above the level that balances supply and demand. The same is true with minimum wage; it raises the quantity of labor supplied and reduces the quantity of labor...
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...employees’ compensation in an organization which are affirmative act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and FLSA coverage laws (Ghosal, 2011). FLSA which is the fair labor standards act is concerned about the standards for overtime and regular payment of wages. This act is enacted by the wage and hour Division and affects both private and public employment. This act requires the employers to pay the employees who have been covered regular minimum wages as per the minimum wages act and overtime pay which should be one and one and half that of regular rates. For all non agricultural organization it restricts the hours that children who are under the age of 16 should work and also restricts employment of children under the age of 18 to certain jobs which may be dangerous. In case it is an agriculture based company, children under the age of 16 should not work during the school hours (Kearns, Borgen, & American Bar Association, 2010). In order for the company to follow this act, the following practices are being put into action. The organization is ensuring that every employee gets minimum wages as dictated by the minimum wages act. The minimum wages for an employee should be $7.25 per an hour as per the federal minimum wage requirements. No children under the age of 16 are allowed to work in the organization. The organization has managed to keep records of its employees which includes employees full name, address or zip code, sex, date of birth, hours worked per day, regular...
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...Abolishing the Minimum Wage ENGL 101 / Janet Stallard Carla Woods American Public University Abolishing the Minimum Wage Many Americans think of the minimum wage as a means of raising the income of the working people. However, the minimum wage is not the best way to combat poverty. In fact, the minimum wage does more harm than good. The list of its negative effects is a long one: it causes unemployment; it prevents unskilled workers from getting the on-the-job training they need; it encourages teenagers to drop out of school; it promotes the hiring of illegal aliens; and it increases welfare dependency. For all of these reasons, the minimum wage should be eliminated. To evaluate the minimum wage, we must first understand why it was originally created and what its historical effects have been. The minimum w age was introduced in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt. According to Dr. Burton W. Folsom (1998), a senior fellow in economic education for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the driving force behind this new legislation was not the plight of the working poor but the political might of the highly paid textile workers of New England, who were trying to protect their jobs as they faced competition from Southern textile mills. The Southern mills were able to produce cloth of equal quality more cheaply than their counterparts in the North because of the lower cost of living in the South, which allowed Southern factories to pay lower wages to their workers. In response...
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