Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of worldwide economies, societies, and cultures. It is driven by technological advances, transportation, and communication, which have made it easier and cheaper for goods, services, and ideas to cross borders. Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, designs, develops, sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services (Hamilton). The company is known for its innovative products and sleek design, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Apple has been heavily impacted by globalization in terms of its global expansion and how globalization affected the tech industry as a whole.
Offshoring and other economic costs are just two of the many negative aspects of globalization. Offshoring is the practice of companies in developing countries of sending their employees to countries with lower labor costs to increase their profits. Apple has been accused of taking advantage of migrant labor around the world. This is despite the benefits that their products, like the iPad and MacBook, have, such as customizable user interfaces, larger scalability for companies, and a decent user experience for their millions of users and consumers. The company was found to be engaging in illegal industrial activities, such as using forced labor and toxic chemical compounds that pose risks to the environment and human health.
Thesis
Employing young children who should be in school is counterproductive since they expose the kids to dangerous chemicals and an unhealthy work environment. In addition, the company has broken several regulations by allowing employees to work beyond their scheduled shifts, sometimes on weekends and holidays, for less than the legally required minimum wage and without further remuneration. Therefore, the product should not be bought because of the company’s unethical and unfair business practices and instead switch to Samsung, whose policies are more in line with Worldshare.
Discussion
Employing young children when they should be at school is unethical and unhealthy because it subjects them to potentially dangerous poisonous chemicals in an unsafe working environment. It has been reported that in the past, some of Apple’s suppliers in China have employed underage workers and exposed them to hazardous working conditions, including exposure to toxic chemicals. These actions are considered unethical and in violation of labor laws and standards. The fact that these children are supposed to be in school further highlights the gravity of the situation, as it endangers their health and prospects (Claeson 193). Moreover, the unsafe working atmosphere and exposure to toxic chemicals can lead to serious health issues such as respiratory problems, skin irritations, and cancer. This harms the children working in these conditions and their families, who depend on their income. Such practices are unacceptable and have tarnished the reputation of the company. World share should not buy Apple products because of the company’s unethical and dishonest business tactics and instead replace Apple with a company like Samsung. Their commercial policies and procedures are in agreement with Worldshare’s core values.
Several laws were broken by the company, including allowing employees to work excessively long hours for pay below the minimal standard practically every day of the week without receiving compensation. Apple employs children as young as 14 from various countries, including China, Singapore, and even some areas of Africa. A Chinese plant is responsible for producing the jaw-dropping iPhones that this corporation invests a significant amount of money daily. The multinational firm violates many employment laws, although it has already made billions of dollars and continues to do so daily. In her TEDTalk speech, which was uploaded to YouTube on September 12, 2012, Leslie Chang said, “Imagine the teenage farm girl who earns less than a dollar an hour stitching your running shoes or the young Chinese man who jumps off a rooftop after working overtime to assemble your iPhone.” Chang made these statements in response to a question from an audience member.
These victims of globalization appear to be exploited by the benefactors of globalization in each transaction that we generate, and this perception is imprinted in the goods themselves. What is wrong with a future where someone who works on an iPhone production line cannot even afford to buy one? Every dollar that the World share spends on Apple products is a dollar that goes toward supporting the company’s exploitative and unethical business policies. Imagine someone who handles dangerous chemicals for a living or works at least 100 hours a week but doesn’t own a single iPhone. This person is putting their life in danger daily (Locke et al. 10). They have nothing else on their minds besides providing for their family. They do not receive 401k contributions or life care coverage from the company (Locke et al. 10). In contrast to the Chinese farm girl, a sales associate in the United States who has a high school diploma or equivalent earns ten times more money and enjoys a more pleasant working environment (Locke et al. 12). Apple was consequently placed in a precarious situation as a result of this.
Since Apple products have faced criticism for various reasons, including its business practices and labor conditions in its supply chains, consumers may look for alternatives to Apple products. There are several alternatives to Apple products for consumers concerned about the company’s treatment of its workers. One alternative is to purchase products from companies that prioritize ethical labor practices, such as Fairphone or ethical. tech. These companies are transparent about their manufacturing processes and actively work to improve the working conditions of their employees (Stowe et al. 275). Another alternative is purchasing products from companies with a history of supporting worker rights, such as Samsung or Sony. Another alternative is to purchase products from companies that prioritize environmental sustainability, such as Lenovo or Dell, as they have policies to reduce their environmental impact and use sustainable materials in their products.
Conclusion
Donations to U.S. institutions of higher learning and nonprofits are beneficial only to citizens of the United States. Ripping off foreign workers and not providing them with the care, attention, and love that a company owes to its employees is illogical and discriminatory. Worldshare’s core beliefs are antithetical to those of Apple. However, Samsung is going in a different direction since its mission is to inspire hope for the future and provide young people a leg up in the present. In conclusion, the results of my research should convince you that a company like Samsung shares Worldshare’s guiding principles. Therefore, as a human-rights-based nonprofit organization, World Share would be fighting against itself if its members chose to support Apple, a firm whose actions are unethical and inhumane.
Works Cited
“The Voices of China’s Workers.” YouTube, uploaded by Chang, Leslie, Web.
Claeson, Björn Skorpen. “Chapter 12: Making rights effective in public procurement supply chains: lessons from the electronics sector.” Public Procurement and Human Rights. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019, pp. 192-205. Web.
Hamilton, Leslie, and Philip Webster. The International Business Environment. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Kaplan, Caren. “Chapter 2: Transporting the subject: technologies of mobility and location in an era of globalization.” Uprootings/regroundings questions of home and migration. Routledge, 2020, pp. 207-223.
Locke, Richard M., and Hiram Samel. “Beyond the workplace: “Upstream” business practices and labor standards in the global electronics industry.” Studies in Comparative International Development, Vol. 53, no. 1, 2018: pp. 1-24.
Stowe, Evan, and Amit Dhingra. “Development of the Arctic® apple.” Plant Breeding Reviews Vol. 44, 2021: pp. 273-296.