> I really do think we have to be mindful of judging other cultures against our rich western values.
It's a single world we live in. Those iPads and M1 laptops are crossing the borders between our cultures, so why can't our values?
It's a single world we live in. Those iPads and M1 laptops are crossing the borders between our cultures, so why can't our values?
If you do believe those things I'm certainly not one to say you're wrong. I could imagine a scenario where removing all child labor is beneficial to the whole, but I do think it's a much more simple model to believe that the more options a family has, the better off they are long term.
Of course all of this rests on child labor being a choice for the family and not compulsory, something I don't know the specifics of for every situation.
Economics isn't simple, but Apple is benefiting immensely from the low cost of employment through these subcontractors and we, as apple consumers, are absolutely allowed to judge companies that exploit overseas labour and refuses to pay for local labour - and that extends to employing people we'd consider children.
Companies don't get a "get out of bad PR free" card just because the child exploitation is occurring in a part of the world where it may be considered ethical.
/s