Yesterday was 1 May synonymous with the Workers’ Day celebrations.were the famous May Day rallies are held across the globe. The celebrations are held in recognition of workers’ rights across the world with the view of having them improved, e.t.c. The current socio-politico-economic system of the world has changed since the Cold War. Then was a mainly bi-polar world. (You have to bear in mind that when the so-called “eminent scholars” of the world talk about what they consider “serious, important, progressive or resembling a civilized society” they reference what’s going on in countries in the West-East corridor. Remember the First, Second and Third World crazy talk. Discrimination if I have to put it right.)
There was the capitalistic side and the socialistic side. With the collapse of the Soviet Union most areas of the world embraced the values of capitalism in their society. Capitalism is good in disguising itself into society. checkout this quote from the late economist, John Maynard Keynes from this picture I posted in one of my previous posts:
The above quote has captured the imagination of many, negatively for workers. Most legitimate demands by workers is deemed as not good for growth, jobs, the economy etc. The concept of slave labor is now becoming common these days. With the growth in technology innovations, and other things, labor is now being viewed as unnecessary in this day and age.
In the high income countries they have found a way of not dealing with the “problems associated with Labor Union Collective Bargaining such as strikes, walkouts etc in their own countries by outsourcing the production of their goods to low income countries were the protection of workers’ rights is not held up in the highest regards. A nice solution for their backyard (high income countries) problems by shifting those problems to other countries. The above quote serves us right.
In high income countries (US and Europe included), where the economic and financial crises were started by policy-makers and those in the financial industry, those who are now paying up really badly are the workers who are facing a drop in earnings and at the brunt of the austerity cuts their governments are needlessly taking. If anyone starts crying foul they are quickly referred to the above quote and told that “we are in this together.” What!!! Isn’t that great, The workers’ didn’t start the whole thing but are in the firing line with those who started the whole fiasco. With the way things are going they (workers) will remain in the firing line long after those who started the crises have left the firing line.
In low income countries, the inadequacies of workers’ rights is used as a political tool to keep certain governments which oppose the nastiest of capitalistic intents such as imperialism and neo-colonialism in check. Obviously the real issue isn’t to protect workers’ rights but to protect geo-political interests of the so-called world powers.
This whole topic seems stupid to some but what we have to know is that at the current state of affairs and the dynamism this system is, our society’s values are decaying right in front of ourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment