Human Rights and International Business

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Table of Contents

Injury of Brazilian sugar cane workers
India’s Role in Burma’s Crisis
Slave Laborers in Central Asia
Career Women in Japan
Chevron wins partial dismissal in Nigeria case

Injury of Brazilian sugar cane workers

Brazilian sugar cane workers are forced to work in terrible conditions: their employers fail to improve working conditions; there is no chilled drinking water, no shelter from the sun, no first aid facilities, and no safe transportation. These workers produce ethanol, the clean and renewable alternative to gasoline; however, the cane fields do not even meet the labor standards and there is an evident violation of human rights. The work is dangerous and companies often cheat their employees by undercounting. The multi-billion industry of ethanol production is developing very quickly; however, very little progress is made to improve the working conditions of employees. In particular, about 75% of the sugar cane cutting requires fires which often leads to serious injuries and death. Half of a million workers are involved in sugar cane fieldwork.

Sugar cane workers have contributed to making the Latin American countries global leaders in ethanol exports. Notable, the employers shift the discussion from terrible working conditions to the emphasis that ethanol production is aimed at helping poor countries to get out of their poverty. Three main issues are closely interconnected in this specific case: poverty, corruption, and international management. The Brazilian population is mostly poor and is forced to accept any working conditions to earn their living. The high corruption of industry leaders and international traders contributes to the creation of monopolistic markets under which international employment policies are completely ignored. As it is vividly described in the article, many Brazilian workers have died in fire even though they realized the danger of approaching flame. Sugar cane workers are intimidated and pressured to increase production while being very poorly rewarded for their work.

India’s Role in Burma’s Crisis

The article deals with the crisis in Burma and the role of India and China in this crisis. Even though it might appear that the major theme of discussion is international politics, from the first lines of the article it becomes clear that the question is not about helping Burma to get out of the crisis. The author has provided a skillful overview of the political battle of India and China for natural resources and domination over the Burma state. In summary, currently, Burma experiences a 500% hike in fuel costs and political repression. The global democratic societies stress the need of China and India to pressure the Burmese junta. India, being the host to 70,000 official Burmese refugees, is able to provide support to democratic movements. Nevertheless, China is more influential in Burma – according to the article, Chinese merchants in Burma pursue drug dealing and human trafficking which does not contribute to the development of democracy. China is the largest trade partner for Burma and is the largest arms provider.

Leaving aside the question of democracy and political domination, both India and China pursue similar interests in terms of energy and regional dominance. Currently, China is more successful in dominating the commercial and political influence as well as in getting most of the energy resources. India, being in desperate need of natural resources, is trying to gain control over Burma’s gas reserves through close cooperation with the Burmese junta. While the international community is preoccupied with the undemocratic political situation in the country, China and India are fighting for the right to control vital natural resources. Neither China nor India are concerned with the political or economic stability of Burma, governments of both countries seek satisfaction of their own business interests.

Slave Laborers in Central Asia

The Uzbek nation experiences the most terrible violation of human rights currently observed by the global community. Uzbek migrants to neighboring countries are turned into slaves without any rights. Because of poverty and declining economic development, numerous Uzbeks are forced to seek employment opportunities abroad. Nevertheless, instead of extra income, they encounter slavery: their passports are taken away, they are caught and beaten. Uzbekistan is the most populated and the poorest country of all former Soviet republics in Asia. As the investigation revealed, Uzbeks are sold to owners for 30 euros each! They become subjects of daily insults, beatings, and rapes. The causes of their forced migration are closely linked to the extremely restrictive trade policies that discourage business activity in Uzbekistan. High levels of corruption and centralization of power also contribute to the economic decline.

As the author of the article has noted, the slavery of Uzbek people will persist because the gap between rich countries and poor countries is increasing. Legal restrictions further facilitate the low wages, weak social support, and inhuman treatment of employees. Uzbeks are used as a free workforce to serve the needs of businesspersons from neighboring countries. The recent disclosure of slavery business and human trade has shocked the global community. Many years have passed since slavery was globally abolished, while the Uzbek nation has to deal with it in the 21^st century. The situation cannot be resolved without the intrusion of international organizations and financial aid to Uzbekistan.

Career Women in Japan

Japan, being one of the most economically developed countries in the world, is currently experiencing the most shocking discrimination issue in the employment field. Only twenty years ago, the law abolishing discriminative employment based on sex was passed in Japan; nevertheless, today women are forced into dead-end jobs because of having babies. The violation of human rights is rooted in Japanese work culture: people are expected to work from the early morning until midnight. This culture makes it impossible for women to have both a career and a family. Notably, the law does not include punishment for companies that practice discriminative policies. Labor Ministry threatens to publish the names of violators; nevertheless, it has never been done. The president of Nissan Corporation is female and she goes home every evening at 7 to put her baby to bed. However, after her baby is asleep she returns to work! The violation of employment human rights is not tolerated by many women, however, they are pushed to quit before reaching management-level positions.

Employment discrimination based on sex creates a disadvantage in the economic field as well as influences the demographic situation in Japan. Japan is an aging nation and birth rates are declining because women seek to advance their career – having a baby is an obstacle to their professional goals. Discrimination is wrong from an ethical standpoint as well as from perspectives of human rights and international business practices. Forced exclusion of women from the Japanese managerial workforce decreases the competitive advantage of the national economy. Nevertheless, the problem is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and is not likely to be solved in the near future.

Chevron wins partial dismissal in Nigeria case

Human rights violation is not a problem of poor undemocratic countries as a recent event in the United States has proved. A federal judge in California rejected a racketeering claim against Chevron Corps. The claim was filed by Nigerians who claimed that an international oil company in cooperation with the military and police killed demonstrators and destroyed their villages. Demonstrators opposed the drilling by the company because it led to the total destruction of their homes. There is reliable evidence that Nigerian allege soldiers with the support of Chevron Ltd. destroyed homes and killed dozens of people. The company provided soldiers with helicopters and planes who fired at demonstrators and their villages. Demonstrators were not revolting, they were not armed, and they did not act violently. They were simply protecting their homes and lives.

Notably, the case was rejected by the United States courts because it was marked as out of American jurisdiction! The obvious violation of human rights by American soldiers resulting in death and destruction was not punished at all. Unfortunately, this is not the only situation when the economic interests of one country are placed above human rights. Despite the numerous efforts by the international community to protect human rights, the violations are very common in many parts of the world. The rights and interests of weak nations are openly oppressed, while the economic interests of powerful countries are pursued through all available means. Death and destruction do not stop the “democratic” influence of globalization. It is hard to understand why responsible authorities do not punish the violence and oppression of human rights.

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Human Rights and International Business

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