Rethinking a defense of sweatshops

Abstract

In this paper, I criticize Benjamin Powell’s alleged comprehensive moral defense of sweatshops in his book Out of Poverty: Sweatshops and the Global Economy New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. I argue that his book is not comprehensive, for it fails to argue against his strongest moral opponent. Through two examples that I call “bullying” and “half rescue,” I argue that sweatshop employees are not being treated in accordance with the minimal moral treatment that they all deserve by virtue of the fact that they are persons. I also argue that we all have a moral duty to set up those institutions, policies and laws that can help sweatshop employees get this minimal moral treatment that they deserve. In addition, I contend that sweatshops no longer should be seen as the “first rung on the ladder out of extreme poverty.” Rather, it is more likely that sweatshops in today’s global economy keep the poor in poverty and cover up the fact that multinational enterprises can involve
sweatshop employees in endless schemes that pit poor people against other poor people, ensuring that none of them will get the treatment that they deserve as persons.