Sunday, December 17, 2017

EXPLOITATION IN THE ORGANIZATION: A Demand for Moral Leadership



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









Youth’s Attitude toward Corruption and Corruption: Philippines Context

The complete paper with the complete results of the study has already been published in Texila International Journal. This is only part of t...