Workchoices

So Apple has been caught using sweatshops to build iPods. This surprised some people, because Apple see Techweb story says it doesn’t condone these work practices.

Since the whole iPod building business is outsourced, how Apple ever thought it would be able to enforce its ideas on work practices is anyone’s guess.

But hey, the workers were probably on individual work contracts that let them trade-off luxuries like penalty rates and holidays for a reduced company enforced rent in the chook shed out the back which passes for a dormitory.

People who get surprised by the excesses of capitalism should spend some time reading history.

Just because we think it’s the best “ism” available doesn’t make it perfect, and left to its own devices there’s no guarantee of wealth, health and freedom for all.

What would really help Apple to enforce its laudable “supplier code of conduct” is a total boycott of iPods.

If punters paused for a moment, Apple would soon rush around Asia and smack any recalcitrant suppliers into line.

That’s the only way to get the attention of good capitalists – temporarily shut down their supply of capital.

But we won’t do it because we like our iPods a lot more than we really care about the exploitation of workers in some far-off land.

We also like our $29 power tools which no doubt come from an even worse factory, but hey, a man’s gotta be able to drill a hole when he wants to.