Walmart accused of allowing child labour

[Fluoxetine]

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is embroiled in a child labour scandal in the United States, after children as young as five were found working on a farm that supplies blueberries to the company.
The revelations came as federal authorities said spot checks on farms in the state of Michigan found that more than half were violating child labour or migrant housing rules.
Human rights groups have stepped up their calls for a clampdown on agricultural businesses, where they say children are routinely exploited. Poor families put their children to work to make ends meet, while agriculture bosses, struggling to meet supermarkets' relentless demands for lower-priced goods, are turning a blind eye, campaigners say.
Walmart and two other supermarket chains said they were suspending dealings with Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Co, the Michigan-based supplier at the heart of the latest scandal. Walmart will not buy anything from Adkin "pending the outcome of an investigation by our ethical sourcing team", a company spokesman said.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-blueberry-farms-accused-of-using--children-as-pickers-1813193.html




And I thought this child labour was outlawed in the USA?

[memnoch]

Wait, Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Co. may be guilty of illegal child labor. How exactly is Wal Mart guilty of allowing child labor?

[Philosophia]

Wait, Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Co. may be guilty of illegal child labor. How exactly is Wal Mart guilty of allowing child labor?

I think this is a "guilty by association" thing. Kinda like if your friend or relative is a murderer than you're a murderer as well. It's stupid logic but many people believe in it.

[memnoch]

I think this is a "guilty by association" thing. Kinda like if your friend or relative is a murderer than you're a murderer as well. It's stupid logic but many people believe in it.

shit, I have bought blueberries from wal mart, maybe I am guilty of hiring child labor.

[Philosophia]

shit, I have bought blueberries from wal mart, maybe I am guilty of hiring child labor.

According to some, you would be.

[memnoch]

According to some, you would be.

I've found that it isn't so much about the individual user, but an excuse to attack companies they don't agree with (or corporations in general).

[ShadowcatX]

I've found that it isn't so much about the individual user, but an excuse to attack companies they don't agree with (or corporations in general).

Agreed. Some people seem to have a nearly religious level of hatred towards Walmart. I don't know why.

[memnoch]

Agreed. Some people seem to have a nearly religious level of hatred towards Walmart. I don't know why.

A very popular theory as to why they are so hated is they are not unionized.

[la tortuga]

Agreed. Some people seem to have a nearly religious level of hatred towards Walmart. I don't know why.

I dislike them as an employer because I have had good friends work for them and they would work overtime but not receive overtime pay, they would be over worked even when they only wanted to work part time in order to go to school, etc. They're just a crappy employer and I tend to not go shopping there if I can help it, which is easy since there are plenty of other places nearby to get groceries and clothing.

[Kraheera]

I dislike them as an employer because I have had good friends work for them and they would work overtime but not receive overtime pay, they would be over worked even when they only wanted to work part time in order to go to school, etc. They're just a crappy employer and I tend to not go shopping there if I can help it, which is easy since there are plenty of other places nearby to get groceries and clothing.


This I can agree with. The Walmart here employs a lot of military spouses. And they treat them like ASS. They get worked overtime without getting paid for it, they are constantly harassed, and they get upset when you're in the ER.

It's an absolute nightmare.

[aranarose]

This I can agree with. The Walmart here employs a lot of military spouses. And they treat them like ASS. They get worked overtime without getting paid for it, they are constantly harassed, and they get upset when you're in the ER.

It's an absolute nightmare.

I can attest to that. Five months pregnant with my son, I was in a car accident. Of course I was taken to the ER, and of course they wanted to keep me for observation. I called into work at WalMart, because I was scheduled to cashier that day, and the supervisor told me if I didn't come in that day, I'd lose my job.

[Ladysadefairy]

Why should it matter that a woman gave birth in a walmart..

i mean seriously , think about the movie "Where the heart is " where the teen mom gives birth in a walmart cause her Jack Ass of a boyfriend ditched her and she ended up living secretly in walmart and ended up giving birth in the store.


so why should it matter , woman dont control when the baby comes , its the way the body works..the water breaks and comes baby..no one has control over it unless a doctor decides to induce birth.

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

Why should it matter that a woman gave birth in a walmart..

i mean seriously , think about the movie "Where the heart is " where the teen mom gives birth in a walmart cause her Jack Ass of a boyfriend ditched her and she ended up living secretly in walmart and ended up giving birth in the store.


so why should it matter , woman dont control when the baby comes , its the way the body works..the water breaks and comes baby..no one has control over it unless a doctor decides to induce birth.

:confused:

[Caitlin.ann]

Why should it matter that a woman gave birth in a walmart..

i mean seriously , think about the movie "Where the heart is " where the teen mom gives birth in a walmart cause her Jack Ass of a boyfriend ditched her and she ended up living secretly in walmart and ended up giving birth in the store.


so why should it matter , woman dont control when the baby comes , its the way the body works..the water breaks and comes baby..no one has control over it unless a doctor decides to induce birth.

You're using a fictional film for a real-life argument? You're serious?

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

I'm not even sure what the argument was. No one here had a baby in Walmart.

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

Or at least, no one has stated such on this thread.

[Caitlin.ann]

Or at least, no one has stated such on this thread.

Oh ****! I think I got it! Wal-mart accused of allowing "child labour"..i.e. a pregnant woman delivering a child in Wal-mart. I think said person was confused by semantics. Where you and I thought "child-labour" in the technical sense the other poster thought labour and delivery.

[watersprite]

And I thought this child labour was outlawed in the USA?
If the Walmart buyer were on farm property and saw children working the farm, THAT would be guilt by association. Especially if not reporting it.
If they saw it, reported it and stopped purchasing from that farm, that's another thing.
I stopped shopping in Walmart because their customer relations are lousy, and I have never seen a happy looking employee in the local one or in the ones in CT. I would SO much rather go to the local Farmers' Market and buy local what I don't have for myself. By the bushel full to preserve things myself.

[brymble]

Oh hug! I think I got it! Wal-mart accused of allowing "child labour"..i.e. a pregnant woman delivering a child in Wal-mart. I think said person was confused by semantics. Where you and I thought "child-labour" in the technical sense the other poster thought labour and delivery.



My head hurts. :bangyourh

[aranarose]

I have mixed feelings about WalMart. I used to work there. I KNOW they suck and are horrible to their employees. I also know their rock bottom prices are killing the market.

That being said, when you only make $700 a month, and sometimes much, much less than that, you shop where you can afford to shop, and very often that's WalMart. So I have a love/hate relationship with them...

However, I can't just automatically say WalMart is in the wrong in this case. If they knew that there were children working the farms in an illegal manner, then yes WalMart is in the wrong here. However, if they didn't know, then they can't really be blamed.

Also, there are certain exemptions to child labor laws in regards to agricultural work.


In jobs that are not considered particularly hazardous, the FLSA sets the normal minimum age for employment in agriculture at 14 years, whereas in every other industry the normal minimum age is 16 years.

In agriculture there are three exceptions to the normal age 14 minimum age:

(1) A child of ages 12 or 13 may work where a parent or guardian (a) consents to the child’s employment or (b) is employed on the same farm as the child.

(2) A child under age 12 may work where (a) the child is employed by a parent or guardian on a farm owned or operated by the parent or guardian, or (b) the child is employed, with the consent of a parent or guardian, on a small farm as defined in the FLSA.

(3) A child of age 10 or 11 may work as a hand-harvest laborer for no more than 8 weeks in a year.

So, if the parents own the farm, yes, a 5 year old can work it. If it's a small farm by definition of the law, yes, a 5 year old can work it with parent's permission.

So if the children working the farm fell under the exemptions laid out in the law, then WalMart wasn't doing anything illegal at all.

[ShadowcatX]

If the Walmart buyer were on farm property and saw children working the farm, THAT would be guilt by association. Especially if not reporting it.


Interesting tie another thread, though I think the majority in that thread disagreed with your statement here.

[Lunacie]

I have mixed feelings about WalMart. I used to work there. I KNOW they suck and are horrible to their employees. I also know their rock bottom prices are killing the market.

That being said, when you only make $700 a month, and sometimes much, much less than that, you shop where you can afford to shop, and very often that's WalMart. So I have a love/hate relationship with them...

However, I can't just automatically say WalMart is in the wrong in this case. If they knew that there were children working the farms in an illegal manner, then yes WalMart is in the wrong here. However, if they didn't know, then they can't really be blamed.

Also, there are certain exemptions to child labor laws in regards to agricultural work.



So, if the parents own the farm, yes, a 5 year old can work it. If it's a small farm by definition of the law, yes, a 5 year old can work it with parent's permission.

So if the children working the farm fell under the exemptions laid out in the law, then WalMart wasn't doing anything illegal at all.

Thanks for sharing that information. I knew that young'uns could work on a farm if it was only a few weeks during the summer. I've known lots of teens and pre-teens who worked strawberry harvest (very short season here) or picked pigweed out of wheat fields by hand before the wheat was ready for the harvesting. And I knew that kids could, and used to very often, do work on a family farm. Lots of boys used to learn to drive the tractor or the grain truck when they were old enough to reach the pedals and still see over the steering wheel. Driver's ed was kinda a laugh for boys when I was in high school because most of them already knew how to drive - they just had to learn the rules of the road.

[Human]

Embarrassingly enough, I actually thought the same thing Ladysadefairy did before I read the article. However... I read the article. :lol:

In response to Walmart's "allowing child labor," I agree with those who say that if they didn't know, they can't be blamed.

Walmart is, of course, immoral for unknowingly accepting blueberries from a company that allegedly allows child labor.

[aranarose]

Embarrassingly enough, I actually thought the same thing Ladysadefairy did before I read the article. However... I read the article. :lol:

In response to Walmart's "allowing child labor," I agree with those who say that if they didn't know, they can't be blamed.

Walmart is, of course, immoral for unknowingly accepting blueberries from a company that allegedly allows child labor.

How can they be immoral if they didn't know? Especially considering that as soon as they found out, they stopped buying berries from the farm?

Also, as I pointed out, child labor, in certain instances, particularly with farming, is still legal.

[Caitlin.ann]

Walmart and two other supermarket chains said they were suspending dealings with Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Co, the Michigan-based supplier at the heart of the latest scandal. Walmart will not buy anything from Adkin "pending the outcome of an investigation by our ethical sourcing team", a company spokesman said.

Walmart suspended dealings with Adkin..no reason for people to get their panties in a twist over this. :)

[Corvis Canis Latrans]

How can they be immoral if they didn't know? Especially considering that as soon as they found out, they stopped buying berries from the farm?

Also, as I pointed out, child labor, in certain instances, particularly with farming, is still legal.

I could be wrong, but my impression was that Human was being sarcastic. :)

[Caitlin.ann]

I could be wrong, but my impression was that Human was being sarcastic. :)

Then the sarcastic face should have been added for clarification. :toofless::uhhuhuh::smileroll

[dandalion]

A very popular theory as to why they are so hated is they are not unionized.
Very true, I belong to a union at my work and wal-mart is a hot topic.

[Caitlin.ann]

Very true, I belong to a union at my work and wal-mart is a hot topic.

Home Depot isn't unionized either.

[dandalion]

I have mixed feelings about WalMart. I used to work there. I KNOW they suck and are horrible to their employees. I also know their rock bottom prices are killing the market.

That being said, when you only make $700 a month, and sometimes much, much less than that, you shop where you can afford to shop, and very often that's WalMart. So I have a love/hate relationship with them...

Me too... I hate shopping there but it helps me make ends meet.


However, I can't just automatically say WalMart is in the wrong in this case. If they knew that there were children working the farms in an illegal manner, then yes WalMart is in the wrong here. However, if they didn't know, then they can't really be blamed.

I agree.. if they didnt know they shouldnt be held accountible. At least they were active and stopped using the supplier and company.

[memnoch]

Home Depot isn't unionized either.

Yeah, but the let illegals hang out outside and look for work, it balances out.


Walmart suspended dealings with Adkin..no reason for people to get their panties in a twist over this. :)

I just noticed something else I missed, Wal-Mart AND 2 other chains were buying from them, yet we aren't told who the two other chains are...its a vast left wing conspiracy :toofless:

[Caitlin.ann]

Yeah, but the let illegals hang out outside and look for work, it balances out.



I just noticed something else I missed, Wal-Mart AND 2 other chains were buying from them, yet we aren't told who the two other chains are...its a vast left wing conspiracy :toofless:

I never notice illegals.

[aranarose]

I never notice illegals.

It depends on the location. Illegals aren't a problem where I live, but I have family in Texas who tell me that Home Depot and other such stores are a favorite hangout of illegals searching for work.

[Caitlin.ann]

It depends on the location. Illegals aren't a problem where I live, but I have family in Texas who tell me that Home Depot and other such stores are a favorite hangout of illegals searching for work.

Hmm...all I know is they love it when I attempt to speak spanish with them. :D

[Terra Mater]

Ta hell with it, get rid of the child labor laws. Let the slackers who don't want to be in school to begin with and do nothin but give their teachers hell go out and get jobs and earn money.

(lack of sarcastic face denotes that I am only half sarcastic about this)

Don't care if the majority of people disagree with me either since my opinions are not based on popular opinion.:smoke:

[Caitlin.ann]

Ta hell with it, get rid of the child labor laws. Let the slackers who don't want to be in school to begin with and do nothin but give their teachers hell go out and get jobs and earn money.

(lack of sarcastic face denotes that I am only half sarcastic about this)

Don't care if the majority of people disagree with me either since my opinions are not based on popular opinion.:smoke:

Hehe nice.

Oh +1

[Xander67]

Ta hell with it, get rid of the child labor laws. Let the slackers who don't want to be in school to begin with and do nothin but give their teachers hell go out and get jobs and earn money.

(lack of sarcastic face denotes that I am only half sarcastic about this)

Don't care if the majority of people disagree with me either since my opinions are not based on popular opinion.:smoke:

well at the rate we are going it just might happen since in 20 years the majority of high school graduates will not be able to pass their SAT
(according to conspiracy theorists who claim the UN is trying to dumb down our children in attempt at reducing the population)

yeah i went there lol

[Caitlin.ann]

well at the rate we are going it just might happen since in 20 years the majority of high school graduates will not be able to pass their SAT
(according to conspiracy theorists who claim the UN is trying to dumb down our children in attempt at reducing the population)

yeah i went there lol

It has been shown that higher intelligence results in decreased population. If they wanted to dumb us down the result would be an increased population.

Higher IQ's = less children
Lower IQ's = more children

[Xander67]

I guess so..

so it looks like the conspiracy theorists were flawed in their research lol

[Caitlin.ann]

I guess so..

so it looks like the conspiracy theorists were flawed in their research lol

Yup learned it in sociology. Countries with lower intelligence amongst their populace often has higher populations and tend to not be post-industrialized nations. Thing third world vs. "first world" or G8 nations.

[Human]

How can they be immoral if they didn't know? Especially considering that as soon as they found out, they stopped buying berries from the farm?

Also, as I pointed out, child labor, in certain instances, particularly with farming, is still legal.

As Corvis said, I was being sarcastic. Sorry, I realize that may have been a bit unclear.

:D

[aranarose]

As Corvis said, I was being sarcastic. Sorry, I realize that may have been a bit unclear.

:D


I spent several years married to a man who overused sarcasm so much that my sarcasm detector broke :)