Are Sweatshops Ethically Defensible?

Abstract

Sweatshop labor has been a source of debate among scholars due to the ethical concerns it raises. A defender of sweatshops would argue that sweatshop labor is a means of reducing company costs that also provides employment opportunities to economically underdeveloped countries. A sweatshop opponent would defend that potentially hazardous working conditions and minimal wages cannot be ethically justified. Previous studies in the field have highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of each side of the sweatshop labor debate. This paper will take the specific position that sweatshops are a permissible form of labor so long as laborers are able to maintain a minimum standard of living, which includes affording basic necessities and having basic human rights respected. In addition, the paper argues that there is some motivation for businesses to promote socially responsible business practices extending beyond legal requirements.