Sweatshop SLO Writing Essay
Information on Sweatshops:
Sweatshops are work environments that possess three major characteristics—long hours, low pay, and unsafe or
unhealthy working conditions. Sweatshops may also have policies that severely restrict workers' freedoms, including
limiting bathroom breaks and even conversations with fellow workers. At its worst, violence is used against sweatshop
workers. Sweatshops have been a factor in the production of goods around the world for centuries, but the globalization
of business has led increasing numbers of major corporations to take advantage of low-cost sweatshop labor in
developing countries. Recent examples of sweatshop conditions in the garment industry have caused an international
outcry by labor leaders, activists, and government officials. Although manufacturers tend to deny it, sweatshops still
exist throughout the world.
Opinion A:
Sweatshop labor is very often the best option individuals in the developing world have for improving their lives and the
lives of their families. We know this partly because individuals reveal a strong preference for sweatshop jobs.
Sweatshop labor is often the most attractive option that individuals in the developing world have available to them. If
people do not receive jobs within sweatshops there is usually no other work.
Boycotting sweatshops, or imposing restrictions on the sale of sweatshop-produced goods, often has the effect of taking
sweatshop jobs away from people. Increasing the regulations of sweatshops – requiring them to pay a higher wage, to
improve safety conditions – also often has the effect of taking sweatshop jobs away from people. Therefore, we should
avoid boycotting, banning, or increasing the legal regulation of sweatshops and/or sweatshop-produced goods. Without
these jobs, many in the world have no work available at all.
Opinion B:
Sweatshop labor in unethical, immoral, and should not occur in our modern world. While some argue that sweatshops
provide jobs to individuals that do not otherwise have choices for jobs, why is it okay for other countries to treat their
workers in ways that our country never would? If we would not allow American workers to be trapped in these jobs
then nobody should.
The main three problems found within sweatshops include work conditions, low wages, and child labor. Sweatshops
have no regulations so workers can be put in dangerous or toxic environments. While their safety is in danger, they also
usually make the same amount of money in one day that a teenager in America can make it one hour or less. As if this
isn’t bad enough, countries such as India have thousands of children working as forced laborers who cannot leave their
jobs. For these reasons, sweatshops are unethical and should not be allowed.
Directions: Please answer the following three questions on looseleaf paper.
1. Briefly explain the author’s main thesis in Opinion A. Use 1-2 sentences.
2. Briefly explain the author’s main thesis in Opinion B. Use 1-2 sentences.
3. Write 1-2 paragraphs supporting one side of the argument regarding sweatshops. Use specific examples (at least 2-3)
from the text to support your position as well as rationales of your own.
Sweatshop information found at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Sweatshops.aspx
Opinion A: Ideas taken from an article by Matt Zwolinski at: http://bleedingheartlibertarians.com/2011/10/answering-the-leftlibertarian-critique-of-sweatshops/