A Question To Ask Any Day Of The Week

I'm working on installing some flooring in the house today, so for now, here is a question that deserves to be asked by all critical thinkers:

A Small Story, But With Large Implications

To be sure, it is a short piece in the part of the newspaper that many readers tend to gloss over, page two. The title, Bangladesh garment workers’ minimum wage boosted, leads one to feel that finally there is a small bit of justice for workers in an industry that has cost so many lives and inflicted so much suffering on woefully underpaid garment workers.

The story reveals that the government of Bangladesh has approved an increase in the monthly minimum wage for entry-level garment industry workers to 5,300 taka ($72 Canadian) from 3,000 taka (about $40). However, the part that gave me pause, the part that spoke volumes about the relationship that exists between companies like Walmart, Joe Fresh and Benetton and the factory owners was this: ... factory owners ... said they would ask retailers to shoulder part of the costs (of the raise).

As we all know, it is common practice in the first world that when production costs go up, those costs are passed on to customers. The fact that the owners in Bangladesh can only express the hope for normal marketplace forces really places scrutiny on all of the big names in retailing to see if their past expressions of sympathy for the plight of garment workers are anything more than sanctimonious platitudes.

Indeed, now is a fine opportunity for Benetton, Joe Fresh, Walmart, etc. to show their true colours.

While Canadians Pay Designer Prices, Cambodian Workers on Strike For $5 Salary Increase

As we go about, getting and spending, here is a sobering reminder of other people's reality.