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Given the changes in China, are you now turning more attention to labor standards elsewhere, like in Vietnam?
We've always looked at all countries equally. If you analyze our audit results, we find a worldwide average of 17 or 18 violations per factory. These are from unannounced independent audits, which give a good picture of what's going on in a factory. In South Asia there's an average of 37 violations per factory. The most problematic countries are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. China is actually slightly below the international average—about 15 or 16 [violations per factory].

How optimistic are you that those numbers will go down in China?
I am optimistic in the sense that I think that there's much more consciousness of this law than others. My concern, at a very practical level, is that factories need to procure management systems to allow them to operate in accordance with this law. There aren't a lot of places to get those systems. It will take some time for companies to adapt.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: yzguo @ 07/21/2009 7:25:55 PM

    a representative government does not necessarily mean it will work right either

  • Posted By: sxr6306 @ 03/01/2008 4:40:11 AM

    The situation is not so optimistic. Chinese people are miserable except some vested interests. We have to fight for everything and the social and natural environment are both abominable. The government is the biggest vested interest. If common people get their rights, the government will get a huge loss.

  • Posted By: deride @ 02/29/2008 5:08:17 PM

    It is strange that people pretend to forget China is Communist country , it does not have a representative government.

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