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Clearly, they get well below subsistence pay. In December 2009, El Salvador's Ministry of Economy said families of 3.81 people need $759 a month to meet basic needs, including housing, food, utilities, transport, education, shoes, and other essentials.
A Final Comment
IGLHR's Kernaghan notes that efforts to "promote and protect human, women's and worker rights in the globally economy have hit a brick wall." Corporate codes of conduct are meaningless. Workers have no rights. These "codes existed side by side with slave labor conditions."
Guilty parties include Wall-Mart, Kohl's, Sears, Nike, GAP, LL Bean, Hanes, Gloria Vanderbilt, Wrangler, and many others. Under CAFTA-DR, workers "have no rights or voice." Those complaining are fired and blacklisted.
Above all, Washington bears most responsibility, letting corporate allies brutally exploit workers. Unless that changes, nothing else will, and, in fact, conditions are worsening. The "reality on the ground is exploitation and the creation of a permanent underclass to service our economy."
Moreover, since the late 1970s, it's been US policy. Corporate power runs America. Unions have been crushed. Full-time, high-paying jobs have been sacrificed for part-time, low-paying ones with few or no benefits, and under Obama rampant unemployment, homelessness, hunger and despair have grown unabated, heading the nation for third world status.
Kernaghan asked if Washington "will give workers across the developing world a voice and empower them to exercise their legal rights?" Examining where America is headed suggests no chance whatever for workers globally.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
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