Migrant Workers: Ethical Issues and Global Impact - Essay Sample

Introduction

Migrant workers are individuals who leave what is familiar and comfortable with the dreams and hopes of making adequate money to sustain their families back at home (Gonzalez, n.d). They contribute to the growth of the world economy since they occupy the lowest-skill jobs in sectors like manufacturing, service industries, and construction, creating a more competitive and productive workforce. Ethical issues relating to migrant workers: First group migrants experience significantly lower levels of labor market involvement, a high rate of requirements compared to the native-born, and lack of employment. The International Labor Society in 2016, projected that 23.6 out of every 1000 persons were victims of forced labor in the EU (Crane, Matten, Glover & Spence, n.d.)

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The manipulation of workers in the EU happens when middlemen and recruitment agents in their states of origin promise them non-existence occupations (Crane et al., n.d). Workers tend to borrow enormous sums of money from the recruiters to pay for their transportation and accommodation. Frequently do not get jobs that pay enough to refund their loans, and thus they get stuck in investments in their new nation, and thrilling cases even result in debt slavery to their recruiters and employers (Crane et al., n.d). Domestic work, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture have been recognized as most likely to undergo forced labor in the EU. In Qatar, workers operated 12-hours shifts in life-threatening temperatures with slight access to water (Crane et al., n.d). The "kafala" sponsorship systems that work in Saudi Arabia and other countries made the plight of migrant employees worse (Crane et al., n.d).

Who Are the Relevant Stakeholders at The Local, National, And International Level?

In the European Union, it was estimated that 23.6 out of every 1000 persons were sufferers of forced labor (Crane et al., n.d). Agriculture, domestic workers, construction, and manufacturing have been recognized as most likely to go through in voluntary work in the EU. It happens when middlemen and recruitment agents promise workers jobs that do not exist (Crane et al., n.d). The workers tend to borrow loans for their travel and accommodations, and to their arrival to the new country, they get no jobs or jobs that do not pay enough money to repay loans. Therefore, they end up trapped in loans (Crane et al., n.d).

The "kafala" sponsorship system functions in Saudi Arabia and some other countries also make the condition of migrant workers worse (Crane et al., n.d). All legal employees must have an in-state sponsor (generally their employer), and they are incapable of changing occupations or leaving the nation without their sponsor's authorization, making addressing their complaints very difficult. "Hukou system" in China prevents rural citizens from getting jobs in urban sectors and from obtaining equal services as the urban people (Crane et al., n.d). It has led to the income difference between the rural and urban populations and also mistreatment of the rural people

Stakeholder Power Legitimacy Urgency

EU, Europe High Low Medium

Hukou system, CHINA High Low Medium

Kafala system, Middle East High Low Medium

How Does Analysis in Question 3 Explain The Unequal Distribution of Resources (Wages, Working Conditions, Rights) To The Migrant Workers Compared to Other Stakeholders?

Yes, Similarities in all stakeholders working conditions of the employees were unfortunate, like in the Middle East, workers were forced to work under extreme temperatures (Crane et al., n.d). In Europe, Union workers in construction, agriculture, and domestic workers experienced forced labor, and in Saudi Arabia, workers were not allowed to air their grievances (Crane et al., n.d). In China, there is an income difference between rural and urban populations and also the mistreatment of the agricultural community. Although migrant workforces are critical to the economies of the Middle East, they have inadequate rights, and they receive less than 1/5 the wages of the country (Crane et al., n.d).

Qatar made a difference by allowing considerable reforms to its labor rules in 2014 by insisting employers pay workers via bank instead of cash and a commitment to put to an end to the kafala system (Crane et al., n.d). Human Right Watch realized that protection humidity and the heat was sadly inadequate, and appealed that Qatar workers were slaves as they were denied their rights (Crane et al., n.d). The predicament of migrant workers came to light with workers' suicides at Foxconn, where products for HP and Apple were made; it triggered the companies to address the issue of lack of financial resources (Crane et al., n.d).

Using each of the three ethical theories of utilitarianism, ethics of duties, and virtue ethics to examine whether the unequal distribution of power and resources (q 3 and 4) to migrant workers is unethical?

Ethics and duties, ethics define the difference between right and wrong, and responsibilities are a direct acceptance of rights. Therefore, the unequal distribution of power and resources to migrant workers is unethical as rural workers in China are disadvantaged by the "hukou system" that inhibits them from obtaining jobs in the proper sector (Crane et al., n.d). Also, getting the same amenities as the urban people - thus causing income difference between the rural and urban population and also mistreatment of rural residence.

The "kafala" system has unnecessary power that prohibits the workers from airing their grievances; thus, they continue suffering in the new country (Crane et al., n.d). Unequal distribution of resources in the original region is one of the factors that has led to the migration of workers to other countries to seek a better life (Crane et al., n.d). Virtual ethics involves doing what is right without being told. There is the need for these systems in China, Middle East, and Europe to uphold workers' rights, avoid mistreating them, overexploiting, give the rural, and urban population equal sharing of amenities and employment opportunities (Crane et al., n.d)

In A Business Ethics Context, Discuss Some Long-Term Strategies That Companies Must Adopt to Ensure That Migrant Workers in Their Supply Chains Are Not Exploited?

Ethical duties by Qatar made considerable reforms to its laws in 2014, including emphasizing that employers pay workers via the bank transfers rather than in cash and an obligation to put a termination to the kafala system (Crane et al., n.d). The human rights organization should ensure that the rights of workers are upheld. The virtue of ethics, doing what is right, and China government has instituted numerous labor market reforms to provide equal opportunities to the rural population as the urban population as well putting the hukou system at the end (Crane et al., n.d)

Conclusion

Millions of migrant workers move from their countries because of the following push factors, economic instability, population growth, political unrest, and limited employment opportunities. Therefore, it is vital that the government put those factors under control to avoid the mistreatment of their people in other countries. The new states should recognize the positive impacts of migrants and thus set rules and regulations to ensure employees are not exploited. Also, provide good working condition and better wages. (Eduardo Gonzalez, Jr)

References

Crane, A., Matten, D., Glover, S., & Spence, L. (n.d.). Abridged from Business Ethics. London: Oxford Press.

Gonzalez, E. (n.d.). Our Nation's Invisible Population. Migrant Farm Workers, 1-3. doi: 10.32469/10355/8871