Arnel M. Borromeo
Master in Business Administration,
Divine Word College of Laoag
ABSTRACT
Exploitation in the organization is
morally wrong. A mere taking advantage of another person for one’s own profit
without giving a just equivalent return to his/her work effort is unethical. So
much more when there is force, threat or punishment which is a violation of the
freedom or freewill of a person. Another is, this can be done in women wherein
their bosses at work will abuse or exploit them sexually without their consent.
Some also fall to sexual exploitation because of deceit and lies, for a promise
to have a good employment and to have a better life.
Exploitation is common to some
organizations. People need to work even if the nature of exploitation is
present in order to satisfy their basic needs for survival, especially the need
for food. The top-level management (owners/managers) of the organization are
completely selfish, totally unconcerned with the well-being of their workers.
The weakness of the workers are being targeted by them. Workers have been made
vulnerable by poverty, unemployment, lack of education, civil conflict,
discrimination, gender inequalities or just the hope for a better future.
Exploitation is usual in some areas like
hotels and restaurant industry, agriculture and clothing industry as well as
clubs and bars.
Moreover, there are so many forms of
exploitation in the organization. We need to address this big ethical problem
by applying remarkable preventions or solutions.
KEYWORDS
Exploitation,
exploit, unfair, unjust, misuse, taking advantage, manipulation, abuse, labor
exploitation, forced labor, bonded labor, sexual exploitation
INTRODUCTION
“Whenever
people with money have power over people with less money, you have the
potential for exploitation.”
Jennifer
Weiner
This
quote gives me the passion and eagerness to write about the topic “exploitation
in the organization.” The main objective of this article is to capture the
heart and mind of the readers regarding the situation and condition of the
exploited people working in any place at any time of the day.
Why
it is that work is important? Why do people need to work if there’s exploitation
in the organization? Work is no longer a way to make a living; it is a way of
living. It is already a part of life and it affects everything they do in the
organization. Work is the everyday conduct of a person and it is a sense of
belongingness to the people around them within the workplace. Every individual
in the organization is a worker who wants to contribute something meaningful
about the company’s purpose, the mission and the vision.
However,
it gives me the heartache and pain on the situation of the workers in some organizations.
It is true that work is already a part of their lives but happiness is not
present anymore. On a day-to-day basis, workers have no freedom of action. In
other words, there’s a violation or omission of their willful act.
It
can simply and harmlessly say that the owners, heads or managers (people with
money and power) are doing an act of using someone like exploiting an
opportunity from the workers (less fortunate, needy/poor) to grow their own
business.
This
topic does not only captivate the feelings of the readers, but also, it gives
them a clear understanding about how exploitation is done between the exploited
and the exploiter. It provides also a mind blowing causes of exploitation and
the application of law in those circumstances or cases. It also tackles about
the different forms as well as some information on the prevention of
exploitation in the organization.
UNDERSTANDING EXPLOITATION
It is
sad to say that exploitation is exercised and enforced every ticking of the
clock, day-by-day at any place in the world. What is the meaning of
exploitation? Exploitation is about misusing the human or structural elements
of an organization for personal gratification or motives (Seekri, 2010). To
make unethical use of, for one’s own advantage or profit specifically to make
profit from the labor of others without giving a just return (Webster, 2010).
Worker/employees in the organization are exploited, victimized and treated
unfairly by the top level management like owners and managers for their own
profit and advantage.
I
have a lot of rubber shoes, clothes and accessories at home. When I bought these
things, I am worried that they have been made by exploited workers, giving hard
labor, pouring sweat and tears in an uncomfortable and unhealthy working
condition. In addition, workers have insufficient foods and drinks, no freedom
of action, excessive time or work and unfair salary/wage. When I use my gadgets
like cellphone, digital camera and laptop, I am worried that the companies who
manufactured those things have used exploited workers. So what can I do about
it? In truth and in fact, I still buy rubber shoes, accessories, clothes and
gadgets, and I use them like pretty much everybody else. Exploitation often
conjures workers laboring in sweatshops for 12 hours or more per day, and their
wages are paid unfairly not in accordance with their work efforts.
In
some offices where employees look decent and doing their job well especially
women, little did they know that unlawful act can be possibly done by their
managers or bosses. Female workers can be abuse sexually with a threat or
punishment at work. Women upon applying, or before employment, they are deceived
with an office work or a good employment, however they are brought in far away
or excluded places wherein they provide sexual services as their work and
becomes a means of their livelihood.
Exploitation
in the society, is a situation in which force, threat or punishment, mark the
relationship between the so called employer and worker. Freedom is restricted,
and ownership of the person is exerted. They are found in some hotels,
restaurants, agriculture, clothing, bars and clubs industry.
The Exploited
and the Exploiter
Exploitation is present in many
areas like companies, industries, factories, workshops all over the world,
where manual workers are employed at very low wages for long hours and under
unhealthy or poor working conditions. In our society, exploitation is composed
of two classes; an exploited class which consist of the less fortunate, they
are the one who is in charge of production, they produces wealth or makes
profit for the organization, and the exploiter class which consist of the elite
people, they are the one who have the money and power and they are the one who
enforce unfair and unjust practices.
The exploited (workers/employees)
are forced by fear and punishment to work by the owner of the company who gives
a little in return to the exploited to make a way for a living as a means of
survival, but the rest of the fruits of their labor are forcefully appropriated
by the exploiters (owners/employers).
Marxist
Exploitation Theory
Under this theory, all working-class
people are exploited according to Karl Marx. It is the forced appropriation of
the unpaid labor. He argued that the ultimate source of profit, the driving
force behind capitalists’ production, is the unpaid labor of workers. So for
him, exploitation forms the foundation of the capitalist system. Every money
collected by the capitalist are the result of the uncompensated labor of the
working-class people. The capitalist can increase the amount of “surplus labor”
that needed to produce the value of wages by extending the length of the
working day. This increases the rate of exploitation, as workers spend a
greater portion of the working day performing unpaid labor for the capitalist. (Lapon,
2011)
Causes
of Exploitation
It
would seem unconceivable that people today would still enslave others or be
subject to exploitation by others for profit. Yet unscrupulous employers,
pimps, and other opportunists recruit, control, transport, hold hostage and
torture human beings against their will. Their victims have been made
vulnerable by poverty, civil conflict, unemployment, corruption,
discrimination, gender inequalities, or just the hope for a better future.
Deception, force or coercion change their dreams and another’s false promises
to harsh realities from which physical, emotional and psychological escape is
very difficult (Markle, Fisher, Smego, 2014).
In
the Philippines and some other countries, poverty is the number one factor of
exploitation. Because of hunger and starvation, people are pressured for their
day-to-day survival. There’s no other option for them, instead they sought to
have a work to satisfy their basic needs especially for food, even if the
nature and conditions of work are unfair and unjust. Another thing is, when
people are being approach by a relative, friend or business person with a
condition of having a good employment or educational opportunity, the people
without the knowledge of the hidden agenda of the recruiter, approved
immediately to the offer, then later fall to the midst of the unknown. They are
forced to labor in a garment/clothing factory, gadgets/appliances factory and
some others. Other victims especially women are being exploited sexually in
bars and clubs.
Unfair
and Unjust
We can make the world a better
place. We can make a company full of people who are happy and working
comfortably. But there’s a big question. Can we do it? It’s easy to say but
others are going the wrong way. Some employees are selfish for a reason that, they
are only thinking about the profit they can get and what may be beneficial to
the company even if it may result to the use of unfair or unjust practices.
Some employers are able to exercise unethical utilization of labor power
without giving a just or equivalent return. In other words, there’s a forced
appropriation of the unpaid labor of workers. In that case the workers/employees
are being exploited.
Laws were created to protect the
rights of the people. As for the Labor Code of the Philippines, one reason that
it was created is to protect the workers/employees’ rights. Article 83
enunciates that the normal hours of work of any employee shall not exceed eight
(8) hours a day. This is exclusive of the one (1) hour lunch break. It must be
emphasized that work hours exceeding eight (8) hours can still be done provided
that there is an arrangement between the employer and employee for work beyond
eight (8) hours and that corresponding overtime pay is given. An employee who performs
work exceeding eight (8) hours is entitled to an additional compensation
equivalent to his regular wage plus at least twenty five percent (25 %) thereof.
(Azucena, 2003)
The workers and employees should be given a
just and fair treatment. They should be given proper payment for their hard
work on the basis of the hours of work as prescribed by the law.
Workers/employees should be given what is just and what is due.
FORMS OF EXPLOITATION IN THE
ORGANIZATION
Just imagine, a mere wound brought
about by the cut of a knife is painful, what more if someone is wounded brought
about by an unlawful or unjust means of exploitation. It will destroy the whole
personality of a person, not only physically but also emotionally and
psychologically. Exploitation is also unethical and criminal in nature. This is
happening not only in the Philippines but also every corner of the world.
The following are the most common
forms of human exploitation in the organization.
1.
Labor Exploitation
The
most usual in some organizations are the exploitation of labor. This is a
situation of people in which they are coerced to work for little or no
remuneration, often under threat of punishment. There are a number of means
through which a person can be coerced, including use of violence or
intimidation and accumulated debt. All types of labor, with every industry, are
susceptible to labor exploitation. Some common sectors and industries are
identified as vulnerable which includes manufacturing, factory work, hospitals,
construction, restaurants and some others.
1.1 Forced Labor
It is the most common element of modern
slavery. It is the most extreme form of people exploitation. It affects the
most vulnerable and excluded groups. Forced Labor happens in the context of
poverty, lack of sustainable jobs and education, as well as rule of law,
corruption and an economy dependent on cheap labor.
1.2 Bonded Labor
One form of force or coercion is the use
of a bond, or debt, to keep a person under subjugation. This is referred to as
“bonded labor” or “debt bondage”. Bonded Labor occurs when a person is forced
to work to pay off a debt. They are tricked into working for little or no pay,
with no control over their debt. Most or all of the money they earn goes to pay
off their loan. The value of their work invariably becomes greater than the
original sum of money borrowed. (“What is modern,” n. d., para 6)
2.
Sexual Exploitation
It is an act or
acts committed through non-consensual abuse or exploitation of another person’s
sexuality for the purpose of sexual gratification, financial gain, personal
benefit or advantage, or any other non-legitimate purpose.
Examples of sexual exploitation in
the organization are:
·
Observing another individual’s nudity or
sexual activity or allowing another to observe consensual sexual activity
without the knowledge and consent of the party involve;
·
Non-consensual streaming of images,
photography, video or audio recording of sexual activity or nudity, or
distribution of such without the knowledge and consent of the party involve;
·
Exposing another’s genitals in
non-consensual circumstances. (“What is Sexual,” n. d., para 1 and 3)
Sexual
Exploitation encompasses a wide-range of sexual abuse or utilitarian sexual
uses of persons, regardless of age, including sexual objectification and sexual
violence. It includes any actual or attempted abuse of a position of
vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes. (“National Center,”
n. d., para 1)
Sexual exploitation means taking the
advantage of sexuality and attractiveness of a person to make a personal gain
or profit. (“Sexual Exploitation,” n. d. para 1)
Every human being deserves the
opportunity to live life to its fullest potential without sexual harm, to
pursue dreams and ambitions, express creativity and hone talents, seek beauty,
truth and faith, experience hope, joy and love with family and friends.
PREVENTION OF EXPLOITATION IN THE
ORGANIZATION
I believe that every person is made
in the image of God. Exploitation of people is a violation to that fundamental
rule. As Christians, God calls us to bring freedom and restoration to those who
are oppressed and ill-treated as a sign of commitment to Him. We should teach
or conduct seminars in some organizations about the teachings of God. It is
proper and important to have faith and fear in Him.
When it comes to prevention, we must
pay attention to the causes that lead to the situation of exploitation. Poverty,
lack of education and unemployment as the main causes of exploitation, reflects
the nature of economic, political, family and other relationships in a
community. Discovering causes is an essential step in creating functional and
effective responses both to the very existence of the causes, and to the
restoration of their consequences. In this regard, there are two main
directions for prevention of exploitation. One refers to reducing or possibly
removing the cause altogether and the other is strictly enforcing the rule of
law. In the Philippines, the government should look possible solutions to
poverty. It should give consideration to the education of the people as well as
providing more jobs. Regarding the second one, the government should enforce
strict implementation of law. It should provide task force to have a surprise
supervision and evaluation of all the organizations within the society. And in
cases that exploitation is present within organizations, they should impose
sanctions and penalties base on the rule of law.
In addition, it is necessary to
establish an independent body who cares about protecting the rights of the
workers against exploitative and oppressive employers. Another is to educate
and give awareness to the workers/employees’ rights or duties through training
in the civil society and to organized specialized training courses about legal
aspects. To give emphasis on the activation of the role of social institutions
like schools, churches, media, cultural forums and others. Lastly is to create
educational and work opportunities for the poor and needy to have a purposeful
life.
CONCLUSION
We
need to show sympathy or affection to those people who are victims of
exploitation in the organization. People need to work in order to sustain their
number one basic need, which is the need for food, even if they are working in an uncomfortable or unhealthy condition,
there’s no freedom of action, there’s force, threat or punishment, excessive
time of work and unfair salary/wage. Women who are eager to have a better life,
to have a good job or to have an educational opportunity are being deceived and
become victims of false promises which later on become exploited sexually.
Those people who have money and power are taking advantage of those who are
less fortunate to gain profit or to grow their own businesses. In other words,
exploitation is the utilization of another person for selfish purposes.
Long
before, exploitation was already present. According to the Marxist Exploitation
Theory, workers are extending the length of the working day performing unpaid
labor which is the source of profit under capitalist system.
In
this article, we learned about the causes of exploitation like poverty
(hunger/starvation), civil conflict, unemployment, corruption, discrimination
gender inequalities and just the hope for a better future. In those
circumstances, the owners/managers of an organization are said to be using,
manipulating and taking unfair treatment to the workers/employees.
In
this topic, it gave us the knowledge and clear understanding about the forms of
exploitation and its prevention.
If we
feel exploited within the organization we are working with, or if we know
someone like a member of a family, relative or friend who is experiencing the
same, we don’t have to worry too much because as stated in this topic, we are
governed by laws which is protecting the rights of the people, that is the
“Labor Code of the Philippines.”
REFERENCES
Azucena, C. A.
(2003) Labor Laws Source Book, The Updated Labor Code and other Labor Laws,
Fourth Edition, Rex Bookstore, Inc.
Collins
Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged, Second Edition.
2002 HarperCollins Publishers 1995.2002, Retrieved on 17 December 2017 at https://thefreedictionary.com/exploitation
Lapon, G. (2011)
What do we mean by Exploitation? Retrieved on 28 September 2011 from
https://socialistworker.org/2011/09/28/what-do-we-mean-exploitation
Markle, W. H.,
Fisher, M. A., and Smego Jr., R. A. (2014) Understanding Global Health, Second
Edition, Mc Graw Hill Education
National Center
on Sexual Exploitation. (n. d.). Retrieved
fromhttps://endsexualexploitation.org
Meriam, G., and
Meriam, C. (2010) Webster New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Seekri, B.
(2010) Organizational Turn Around With a Human Touch, Trafford Publishing
“Sexual
Exploitation Law and Legal Definition,” (n. d.) Retrieved from https://definitions.uslegal.com/s/sexual-exploitation/
Weiner, J.,
Brainy Quotes – Famous Quotes. Retrieved on 09 December 2017 from https://www.brainyquote.com
“What is Modern
Slavery?” (n. d.) Retrieved from https://www.state.gov/j/tip/what
“What is Sexual
Exploitation?” (n. d.) Retrieved from
https://www.swarthmore.edu/share/what-sexual-exploitation
