Amidst the heated U.S. presidential election, a troubling term has resurfaced—"forced labor," and it’s being directed at Chinese manufacturing. However, these accusations are unfounded. In fact, the association between "forced labor" and "China" first appeared in September 2020, when the Trump administration announced import restrictions on certain Chinese companies, claiming these companies used forced labor in the Xinjiang region. Such accusations are not only absurd but also untrue.
As a leading company in the Chinese bathroom industry, Giving Tree Home solemnly declares that our work environment strictly adheres to voluntary principles. Therefore, you need not worry about international trade issues affecting your orders and deliveries.
What is Forced Labor
Forced labor is not only a severe ethical and legal issue but also causes significant harm to the physical and mental health of workers. It refers to work or services performed under duress without voluntary and free choice, characterized by:
- Coercion through fraud or economic exploitation, rather than the individual's own will.
- Restriction of workers' freedom to leave the workplace through illegal detention or violence.
- Violation of basic personal rights, lacking freedom of choice and fair working conditions.
- Actions that violate laws and regulations set by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Harm of Forced Labor
The harm caused by forced labor is severe and evident. Workers often endure excessively long hours, extremely low wages, and lack of safety protections in harsh working environments. Long-term physical strain and mental stress can lead to significant health issues, such as respiratory diseases and psychological disorders.
To illustrate these harms, let’s consider bathtub production as an example. Some unscrupulous traders may use low-quality or chemically hazardous materials for bathtub production, involving processes like cutting and sanding that generate dust. Workers in the workshop may not have necessary protective gear, such as masks and goggles, which could lead to serious health issues, like nasopharyngeal cancer or lung damage from long-term exposure to harmful chemicals. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to forced labor issues, as many similar problems exist.
In addition to the direct harm to workers, forced labor negatively impacts the market. Goods produced through forced labor are often priced lower due to cheap labor. This price advantage makes these products attractive in the market, and unsuspecting consumers end up purchasing them, indirectly harming legitimate businesses and disrupting the normal market economy.
In contrast to these forced labor practices, Giving Tree Home’s operational philosophy always emphasizes transparency and human care. All our self-developed products are processed in our own factory. To ensure the health of our workers, we provide each worker with safety gear, such as masks, goggles, and gloves, and offer allowances for extreme temperatures during special processing procedures, ensuring that workers receive their legal rights.
Who is Being Oppressed
Forced labor is not only a physical torment but also a mental anguish, often pushing victims to the brink of collapse. It is astonishing that such phenomena still exist in today’s society, despite global efforts to combat these inhumane practices. Many people may wonder why forced labor persists in modern times and why these workers do not resist.
In fact, even in developed countries like the United States, forced labor issues exist. Any worker can become a victim, regardless of age, race, gender, religious beliefs, or nationality. However, certain vulnerable groups are more likely to suffer from exploitation, including but not limited to:
- Illegal Immigrants: Due to their illegal status, they are often targeted for exploitation by unscrupulous employers.
- Physically or Mentally Disabled Individuals: Due to their limitations, they struggle to advocate for their legal rights.
- Those Lacking Legal Knowledge: These individuals may not know how to protect themselves and are more susceptible to exploitation.
- Language Barriers: Difficulty in communication can make it challenging for them to defend their rights.
- The Poor: Facing harsh living conditions and lacking basic resources, they may feel compelled to submit to exploitation.
Clearly, these groups share a common characteristic—economic hardship—making them prime targets for exploitation, which reflects an old Chinese saying: “Thin ropes tend to break at the smallest point, and misfortune seeks out the most unfortunate.”
As one of the most developed developing countries, China has a sound legal system and is committed to protecting workers' rights, making instances of forced labor very rare. With Giving Tree Home headquartered in Shenzhen, one of China’s most developed and prosperous cities, it is impossible for forced labor to occur within our operations.
Boycotting Forced Labor Goods
According to a U.S. Department of Labor investigation, 155 products from 77 countries have been identified as produced through forced labor. Industries heavily reliant on manual labor, such as sugarcane, cotton, and brick production, are particularly severe, involving issues such as child labor, excessive working hours, and lack of protective measures during production.
To combat these inhumane business practices, the U.S. Department of Labor has launched the “Comply Chain” app to help companies understand child labor and forced labor issues in their supply chains; the “Sweat and Toil” mobile app provides detailed reports on child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking; and the “Better Trade Tool” is an interactive web-based visualization tool that links research on child labor and forced labor with U.S. import trade data.
As a conscientious company, Giving Tree Home will always stand against forced labor and welcomes supervision from all consumers and supporters. We believe that a key element of strengthening our brand is the capability of our employees. By providing a good working environment, we not only enhance worker satisfaction but also ensure a more responsible production process, resulting in finer, flaw-free products.
Ending
Forced labor not only oppresses its victims but also poses a threat to the future of all workers. Since most people in society are both consumers and workers, we have a responsibility to boycott all products produced through forced labor. Rejecting these companies is not only a show of support for the victims but also a step towards a more just social environment for ourselves.
