Super Mega Ultimate Sparkle Chinese
Employment Relations
So lets skip all the bigoted jokes at the expense of china for now and get straight down to business. (I say that but it's only that I honestly can't think of any good racist jokes right now... Dagnabbit indeed)
I suppose we've all noticed by now that in an effort to combat their dwindling population, all members of the feline race have transformed into nightmare apparitions... God help us all.
So lets skip all the bigoted jokes at the expense of china for now and get straight down to business. (I say that but it's only that I honestly can't think of any good racist jokes right now... Dagnabbit indeed)
I suppose we've all noticed by now that in an effort to combat their dwindling population, all members of the feline race have transformed into nightmare apparitions... God help us all.
LOST:
If found then you are already dead. Please do not attempt to return to its
owner.
|
So China's been getting some good ol'economic growth recently; (http://hum.sagepub.com.ezproxy.library.uwa.edu.au/content/66/1/157.full). Look at your computer, its made in china, now look at your man, made in china now look back to me, made in china...? Everything is made in china. Even "Aussie brands" like Billabong have factories in china. I have recently started buying goods wholesale from China at about 30% the cost you would pay in Australia (Is that evil? Am I unpatriotic? Does it matter? I always figured I was a citizen of the world, do I need to be loyal to one country in particular? Shouldn't we stop thinking about things so trifling as arbitrary borders on a map? Aren't we all human and made of the same organs inside!? Well I'm not... My organs are made of wood chippings and Krazy Glue™.)
So China produces lots of muy grande products for not much dinero, their manufacturing industry is probably the best in the world with a heavy focus on Strategic HRMT practices emphasizing efficiency but the main problem with China however is the mass oppression of workers. Blue collar conditions are laaaame, and factory workers are abused pretty badly. People have been whining a lot recently (and rightly so) as the whole Apple and Foxcon fiasco came to light but its not the only electronic goods factory chain that treats labour with sub par standards. (http://electronicswatch.org/en/poor-working-conditions-persist-at-chinese-suppliers-of-global-it-brands_14704) You can check out the stuff in this article for a better view of the poor working conditions.
Anyways, as for some sort of emergence of independent representation for employees which they so sorely need there hasn't been any yet, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) is the only thing they have but it works as a section of the government so it doesn't really represent the workers (www.clb.org.hk/en/category/all-china-federation-trade-unions). Workers in China are calling for union representation but I doubt the communist government really wants to give away any power to the oppressed masses most of what's actually going on seems like cost reducing strategies rather than improvement in employee voice or conditions. (http://www.clb.org.hk/en/content/white-collar-workers-yearn-trade-union-their-own)
Will China's government's lust for economic growth eventually be sated to the point where they will allow union representation to exist or improve worker conditions? You decide! Sorry for all the links in this one but it was a quality conundrum.
Stay beautiful out there, even in the light of the most recent nightmarish apocalypse!
"Life is painful and meaningless, You are a speck in the void, a mere transitional element in the vast might of the cosmos. So you might as well just die" - Mahatma Gandhi
Legit 100% ;)
Hi Nick
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your blog post and find myself thinking these thoughts about how every second thing I pick up is made in China. It is a real credit to their HR systems they have in place, and the hardworking and disciplined behaviour that is engrained in their culture. Although this is true I think the point you raised about the calls for more unionisation amongst the workforce, so theyre labour doesnt get exploited is very important.
This article from The Economist speaks about trade unions in China, and will provide you with an alternative viewpoint to consider (http://www.economist.com/node/11848496)
Hi Nick,
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I just wanted to say thank you for another really interesting blog post that combined your usual humour with strong and informative points about the topic of Chinese employment relations. I particularly enjoyed your rant on being 'a citizen of the world' as we have previously discussed this idea together and clearly possess similar thoughts.
In regard to the question you have posed about the potential for union representation in China, I agree with the above comment from Jack that it is important for more workforce unionization to occur, however I cannot see this happening in the near future due to this nations current political and economic environment. As stated in the question, I believe that this lack of actual union representation will continue due to China's desire for more and more economic growth and I found an article from a Chinese context that suggests that unionization would have a positive effect on productivity but an overall negative impact on profitability which is the most important factor in this nation currently (http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.uwa.edu.au/science/article/pii/S1043951X10000027)
Thanks!
Yoink, Using both of those links in my essay ;P. The world really needs to extend its definition of profitability past the purely economic standards. What about social or cultural profitability, what about average quality of life? Utility of happiness? But world leaders are so focused on GDP and think that its all important.
ReplyDelete