Is Wal-mart Good for Overseas Workers? Essays -- supermarket industry,

When Wal-mart first entered the supermarket industry back in 1962, they were already dour to a disadvantage as the industry during that eon was already dominated by well-established and deeply experienced national durance such as Albertsons and Safeway. However, in a period of just decennary years, Wal-mart had opened an average of seven supermarkets per month for 120 consecutive months, with a total of 888 supercenters. (Fisherman) By then, Wal-mart became the number one food retailer in the nation. What led Wal-mart from starting out as a rookie marketplace market to becoming a dominating, world-wide supercenter? The answer is in their prices, which is generally 15 percent lower than their competitors. (Fisherman) For this very reason, Wal-mart has changed the lives of umteen, including the spending habits of the shoppers and the working environments of the factory workers abroad who produces these low-priced products. Although Wal-marts slogan Save money, live better appea ls to many of the customers, their actions are putting a burden on factory workers oversea as many are forced to work without the proper benefits and preventative regulations. One of the many reasons why Wal-mart is able to manufacture cheap products is because of the ludicrously low wages and long hours given to the workers overseas. They receive little to no benefits, breaks, or vacations. Their working hours typically start before 8A.M. and lasts until 11P.M., seven age a week and they only have ten days off in a year (185). In The Wal-mart effect Robina Akther, a sixteen-year overage sewing operator from a factory in Dhaka, discloses that she only earns 13 cents an hour for fourteen hours a day, which is about $26.98 a month (185). Akther as well as mentioned, I clean ... ...e products. These injuries often go unreported since workers are alarmed of being disregardd or punished, and they simply cannot afford to lose their jobs. Furthermore, nigh factory workers do not have the money to afford checkup care and as a result, most do not come up to their problems or go into debt trying to pay for medical attention. Once again, Wal-mart is shown to not care about workers synthetic rubber, whether if it is providing them with insufficient safety equipment or blocking the fire escapes to prevent workers from taking breaks.One reason for this is the local labor laws that are unique to each country, such as the minimum wage and safety standards, allow factories to continue operation below the international standard. In addition, many factories operate under the table. Safety reports are faked or many things go unreported, and underage workers are allowed to work.