Latoya at Racialicious challenges us to remember who we are fighting for.
Here’s my roundabout answer.
Following is a list of informal requirements to obtain a job as a factory worker at the Cavite Export Processing Zone in the Philippines:
- female
- 18 to 24 years old
- high school graduate, some college preferred
- good English skills
- diligent and hard-working
- can work fourteen hour shifts, six days a week
- can hold in urge to urinate for hours at a time, until designated breaks
- if married, must practice birth control or undergo tubal ligation
- single preferred, must be willing to undergo periodic virginity tests.
Women make up from 70 to 90 percent of the labor force in the various export processing zones around the Philippines. In Cavite, long-known as a “no strike zone,” young women workers are preferred for factory jobs because they are perceived as more “docile,” and therefore less likely to go on strike and demand better working conditions.
A pregnant worker represents disruption in the production process. Workers who get pregnant are routinely fired, but the companies still lose their investment in her training and will have to spend resources to train new workers. Hence the stipulations for “virginity tests” and against pregnancy.
Many of the young workers leave their barrios for jobs as factory workers to augment family income. If a young woman is seen as a potential troublemaker (aka activist), her family could receive a “visit” from their local mayor. It is left to the intimidated parents to beg their daughters to stop their organizing activities.
Oh, and following is a partial list of corporations that operate or subcontract companies within the Cavite Export Processing Zone:
- Nike
- the Gap
- IBM
- Liz Claiborne
- Calvin Klein
- Timberland
- WalMart
- Target
This is what the economic development politics of globalization does to women in export processing zones. All of us in countries like the United States, ALL of us, benefit from their labor.
My activism is for them.
Oh my god. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know whether to cry or rage. But thank you for getting this out there.
I know what you mean, Ismone. One humbling thing I remember from conversations with the workers was their trust and optimism, it just stirs up so much emotions. And they’re the ones getting their narratives out, even at great risk to themselves. Thanks for dropping by.
Actually, Ismone, let me add to what I last said. There’s actually international campaigns based in Europe and North America aimed at supporting workers at the EPZ. They’re good ways of chanelling our rage. Will collect the info and put them together into another post.
great great post tanglad!
Thanks, so much, goodbear. And salamat for your visit.
[...] 19, 2008 by tanglad The appalling work conditions at the Cavite Export Processing Zone are, unfortunately, not unique to the [...]
* Nike
* the Gap
* IBM
* Liz Claiborne
* Calvin Klein
* Timberland
* WalMart
* Target
That list comes as no surprise to me. The garment industry is notorious for its labor exploitation. I simply refuse to buy clothing new as I do not want to participate in the exploitation of others. In fact I make it a point to attempt to buy most things used first. Not only is this the best environmental approach it sends the message to these companies that I will not participate until they pay a living wage. Much time is spent decrying consumerism but if used properly it can be avenue to create a change!
Agreed, Renee. I think many people in the demand side of this global chain don’t see how our choices can have consequences for women at the other side of the chain.
[...] benefits rests on the suffering of scapegoated people outside Omelas. On women and children, on brown bodies in countries in Southeast Asia. In South America and Africa. And even right here in [...]
This is a very direct answer. Thank you for these details and for the larger picture.
Welcome to the blog, kiita, and thank you for your comment. Salamat.
I fully support you here. I was at the Cavite EPZ last year and the worker’s fight for justice here is at every corner, every factory. I spoke with strikers and workers that have been let go because of age and other weak reasons.
Keep fighting Tanglad!
[...] example, many of us in the One-Third World rarely reflect on our patterns of consumption, on how overconsumption contributes to substandard working conditions in Export Processing Zones around the world. If you’ve ever bought clothes from Nike, the Gap, or purchased products from [...]
[...] example, many of us in the One-Third World rarely reflect on our patterns of consumption, on how overconsumption contributes to substandard working conditions in Export Processing Zones around the world. If you’ve ever bought clothes from Nike, the Gap, or purchased products from [...]
perfect answer to “Latoya at Racialicious challenges us to remember who we are fighting for”.
Third world countres have become the resort of MNCs. Best candidates for their production are those what you just cited in your exposition. Women workers (in partnership with men) have yet to be empowered with their rights. It is not only a class issue but the ever cross cutting matter on gender should be internalised and advanced.
For one, I haven’t got any brand (Nike, Klein, etc.) to use not only I don’t have the money but I believe in the power of the hard earned money. The wages of these laborers are hard earned-literally and figuratively. The story of one Carmelita who died due to overwork (sewing to comply the next production output) is one ghostly reminder how we should value money and that we should spend it to more important ones. (Asian women) workers are paid meager amount. One mother said how ironical it was for her to be “doing” Nike shoes, sold at high costs, but she only had thin and old slippers to wear at work. (My apologies to “branded” people, I don’t mean to offend).
thanks for the write up tanglad, and thanks for letting me add.
Hi reina,
Welcome and salamat for the comment and your insights. Too many Carmelitas are sacrificed to this global order.