Global Capitalism and Fair Trade

I have always wondered how a brand of shoes could be so popular and common all over the world. Now, it comes to my mind the term, “Global Capitalism” which means when an economic system in which a country’s trade is imposed in other societies and controlled by private owners for profit. This seems to be the century where the target of a company is to become large-scale production and globally. However, global capitalism does not assure benefits for the societies where they are imposing the market production. In Fact, some factories and companies are originally from one country, but they manufacture their products in other countries because it is cheaper, save taxes, pay low wages to the employees and so forth.

Fair trade is program that the factories are willing to support the people behind the product. Fair trade is an opportunity that the employees can get benefits from that improves their lives. Fair trade funds go to health care programs or even products that they cannot afford, such as, items for the house. This program encourages workers to have initiative in their labor. It is a way to make sure that workers be safety and healthy and no child labor, fair wages. Fair does not just help the worker, they also help them to become architects of their future. In contrast, there are many factories around the world where bad treatment of the workers, low wages, unsafe factories and pollution around these factories is what you commonly seem. Fair trade has changed the lives of many workers and it has given them hopes to have a better future.

The three items that I chose for this assignment are my Adidas clothing, my favorite Nestlé products, and my Dove care products. I did some research to know if these items that I chose are global capitalism and fair trade. What I found is that all these items are all examples of global capitalism because they are manufactured in other countries and distributed all around the world. My Adidas clothing are products that I really like to wear when I go to the gym or running. This a very common brand that I never thought that it is originally from Germany. Next, my dove products are so essential to everyday routine. Whether it is my deodorant, beauty bars, lotions, hair care, and facial care products. Every time I used, I feel that I am being in care and looking great. Dove products are originally from The United Kingdom and they are manufactured in many countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, etc. Finally, Nestlé Products, my favorite are cereals and ice cream. This is a transnational largest company located in Switzerland and they are present in 189 countries around the world. They have factories in 86 countries worldwide.

These are worldwide companies because they manufacture in other countries outside their original country. Adidas manufacture most of their products in China because Chinese factories work frequently with luxury brands. Besides, there is cheaper labor and lower taxes. In contrast, Nestlé manufactured their products in every continent. Especially, in Africa, Nestlé has seven factories in Africa because it is a continent where they can pay fewer taxes and lower wages. Finally, Dove products are manufactured in some of the biggest countries of the world, such as China, Brazil, Japan, Canada, and so on. This company finds cheaper resources or skilled workers in these developed countries. Hence, it increased the market production. All of these are strategies of these companies to grow and to be globalized. It allows them to manufacture their products in cheaper countries and then distribute and sell them all over the world.

We looked if these products were an example of global capitalism. Now, Base on the three products that I chose, I found out that none of these were fair trade recognized. Since fair trade means paying a fair salary to their workers and caring about their health and safety. Nestlé, Adidas, and Dove do not meet the standard.

References

1. https://www.adidas-group.com/en/group/profile/
2. DOVE – Company Profile
3. https://www.nestle.com/aboutus
4. https://www.nestle-cwa.com/en/ask-nestle/answers/how-many-factories-do-you-have
5. https://www.fairtradecertified.org/