The Business and Environment

Charmaine Aquino

Mikee Charlemagne Factores

Penny Laine Puazo

I.                   Abstract

This paper aims to explore the real reasons why businesses (public and privately-owned) exist and what their relationship to the environment really is. The main focus is to discuss the negative effects these businesses give to the environment and the possible ways on how to address these—either to minimize or stop them. The continuous subjugation and exploitation of the environment by established businesses has posed a great risk in the complete destruction of natural resources. This and its undesirable consequences to the people living around them. Rules and regulations regarding the preservation of biodiversity and all other natural resources has been enumerated, along with a non-comprehensive discussion of the Corporate Social Responsibility practiced among all organizations and what ethics has to do with it. The result of the paper indicates that laws regarding these should be properly observed because it is the way government wants to protect our environment. Business is not just about profit gains but also considers many factors that helps it operate, in this case the environment has the greatest contribution to it. In addition, ethics is an essential ingredient for today’s business success, because it is considered as a final value produced by and for the company.

  Keywords

Environment         biodiversity                 exploitation                 preservation

Business                natural resources         mining                         subjugation

Ethics                    DENR                         illegal logging              rules and regulations

Business and the environment

 Introduction

A Business

Every business has a purpose. This is the main factor which drives the business to operate. The purpose of a business is to offer value (through products and/or services) to customers, who pay for the value with cash or equivalents. Minimally, the money received should fund the costs of operating the business as well as provide for the life needs of the proprietor (Weiss, 2013). This is often associated with the mission and vision of every business entity. It defines the reason for the company’s existence. Having a strong sense of purpose gives people a clear sense of what their contribution to the company means, and also how they should do things every day. It makes their work feel more meaningful – a key motivator for staff across all generations, because we all have an innate desire to contribute to something bigger.

The Philippine Environment and Environment in General

“God created man in His image and likeness; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them.

“God blessed them saying, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on earth.”

-Genesis 1:27-28

The passage from the Bible might have been taken literally by the people—to have dominion over all things on Earth. This is exactly what happened in the past, what’s happening today and probably might be happening in the future. The subjugation and exploitation of the environment has caused major damage in the past centuries and sadly, the human way of “taking dominion over all things on earth” will continue in the future.

There were a few people then and the Earth has easily recovered from the “damage” humans inflicted on it. But now, there are more than 5 billion people compared to less than half a million many years ago, it becomes very difficult for the earth to recover. (Deauna and Dorado, 2008)

The Philippines has a total land area of about 300,000 square kilometres, about 92,000 square kilometres are farmland, and about 72,000 square kilometres are forest land, including 65,000 square kilometres of public land and 7,000 square kilometres of privately owned land.

In that vast expanse of land lies minerals and other valuable items that can bring large profits to businesses. The major natural mineral resources, for example, include coal, cobalt, copper, chromite, gold, gypsum, iron, natural gas, nickel, petroleum, salt, silver, and sulphur.

Also, the Philippines fertile lands can house millions of trees which are habitats of other millions of land animals, some of them rare and now, very much extinct. Some of these include the tamaraw and tarsier which can only be found in the country.

Not only that, the Philippines’ aquatic reaches expands wide and contains more riches than anyone can ever imagine. It’s blessed with excellent natural harbors for ports. Most popular tourist attraction is the famous underground river in Palawan; the heart-shaped Laguna de Bay; lake Taal in Batangas; Maria Christina falls and the Pagsanjan falls are among others. These are precious stones and beautiful Coral Reefs which are contained under them.

Being surrounded by the ocean, it is no surprise that the Philippines rely on the waters as an important natural resource. There are more than 640,000 square miles of territorial waters in the Philippines and within these waters; there is an abundance of marine life and materials that are valuable to the nation's people and those across the world. At least 65 species of the 2,400 available species in Filipino waters have solid commercial value, and the crabs, seaweed, pearls and other ocean treasures make the sea among the top resources for this archipelago. (Morgan, 2015)

However, the Philippines is prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying across the typhoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing. (Narsus, 2015)

              Kennedy, N. (2010). Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century: From Governmental Regulation to Corporate Social Responsibility: Workshop Summary. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53982/

 

Relationship between Business and Environment

Environment is closely related with business. There is a constant ‘give and take’ relationship between environment and business. The business receives inputs, information and technology from the environment and gives it back in the form of goods and services (Tanuja, 2017). Every business should always take into consideration the community that maybe affected in their daily operations. They are part of the stakeholders as well. They may not be directly benefited from the business operations but the wastes from the businesses greatly affect their daily living. Many business operations depend on the environment, as it can be the primary source of raw materials and can affect business processes. Companies around the world are integrating environmental interest with business and are becoming proactive in finding ways to reduce environmental impact. Additionally, consumers are favoring businesses that contribute to protecting natural resources. How your company addresses environmental issues affects the turnout of your business (Davoren, 2017). Regardless of the type of business you run, it's possible to reduce your impact on the environment and improve your bottom line. Lowering your carbon footprint, reducing your waste and becoming more sustainable can result in energy, water or waste management savings. It can also increase your profit through efficiency or productivity gains.

Environmental issues affect business because laws require them to change equipment and procedures to meet imposed standards, which costs business money. Many businesses do such Corporate Social Responsibility effort to preserve the environment. Some environmental issues affecting business include industrial waste, sustainable development of raw materials and water and air emissions. These issues require additional cost to the business in man hours, procedures, and equipment.

Proper disposal of waste is the most common issue that needs to be addressed. Businesses most especially those in the manufacturing process create waste that obviously harms the environment. By products from these needs to be dispensed properly in accordance with the environmental laws existing in that certain place. Recycling programs can also be done; the waste of one manufacturer can be a raw material for another business. Waste is minimized and the business also benefits from it because selling the wastes in the form of raw materials is also an added profit for them.

Another environmental issue is the sustainable development of raw materials. Raw materials used by manufacturers which include natural resources such as wood require business to take measures to replace what it uses. Planting trees to replace them is the simplest way but it will take time for these to be able to grow into mature ones. Again, the effect on business is cost in terms of higher raw materials costs, which usually include the supplier's cost to “replant” or “restock” the natural raw materials.

Emissions both air and water affects the environment as well. Again, environmental protection laws require businesses to protect the environment from exposure to these. Remedial process include placing screens of specified gauges over smoke stacks, filtration of waste water and lining of retention ponds with clay and poly liners. New regulations are implemented frequently that require retrofitting of manufacturing facilities with increased protections, such as screens of even finer gauges and pond liners of newer and safer materials. All of these measures are costly to business and affect businesses first by decreasing profit margins

Ethical Relationship between Business and the Environment

Environmentalists and business leaders have traditionally seen themselves at odds. But the concepts of business, ethics, and the environment can be aligned to create innovation rather than legislation and litigation. There are no magic solutions; however, asking the right questions is a step in the right direction.

Businesses must continue to create value for their financiers and other stakeholders. To leave a livable world for future generations, business leaders also must pay attention to environmental matters. Yet most of the methods, concepts, ideas, theories, and techniques used in business do not put business, ethics, and the environment together. Neither ethics nor regard for natural systems is typically central to the way we think about business.

In a similar way, environmental considerations are frequently viewed as barriers to profitability. They are viewed as necessary evils, costs to be minimized, or regulations with which to comply. The environment is rarely considered central to business strategy unless there is some regulation that constrains business goals. Historically, business people neither have been encouraged nor discouraged to get involved with environmental concerns. Models and theories of business traditionally have been silent on the subject of the environment. Silence, however, is no longer an option in the face of society’s recognition of the potential environmental price of corporate profits.

An increasing number of citizens consider themselves to be environmentalists. Governments are increasing their cooperative actions to address worldwide environmental concerns such as global warming and biodiversity. And interest groups are beginning to propose solutions to problems that involve business decision-making outside of and beyond government regulation.

The success of every business depends on adapting itself to the environment within which it functions. For example, when there is a change in the government policies, the business has to make the necessary changes to adapt itself to the new policies. Similarly, a change in the technology may render the existing products obsolete, as we have seen that the introduction of computer has replaced the typewriters; the color television has made the black and white television out of fashion. Again a change in the fashion or customers’ taste may shift the demand in the market for a particular product, e.g., the demand for jeans reduced the sale of other traditional wear. All these aspects are external factors that are beyond the control of the business. So the business units must have to adapt themselves to these changes in order to survive and succeed in business. Hence, it is very necessary to have a clear understanding of the concept of business environment and the nature of its various components.

Business and Environment

There is a close and continuous interaction between the business and the environment. This interaction helps in strengthening the business firm and using its resources more effectively. As stated above, the business environment is multifaceted, complex, and dynamic in nature and has a far-reaching impact on the survival and growth of the business. To be more specific, proper understanding of the environment helps the business in the following ways:

a.       Determining Opportunities and Threats: The interaction between the business and its environment would identify opportunities for and threats to the business. It helps the business enterprises for meeting the challenges successfully.

b.      Giving Direction for Growth: The interaction with the environment leads to opening up new frontiers of growth for the business firms. It enables the business to identify the areas for growth and expansion of their activities.

c.       Continuous Learning: Environmental analysis makes the task of managers easier in dealing with business challenges. The managers are motivated to continuously update their knowledge, understanding and skills to meet the predicted changes in realm of business.

d.      Image Building: Environmental understanding helps the business organizations in improving their image by showing their sensitivity to the environment within which they are working.

e.       Meeting Competition: It helps the firms to analyze the competitors’ strategies and formulate their own strategies accordingly.

f.       Identifying Firm’s Strength and Weakness: Business environment helps to identify the individual strengths and weaknesses in view of the technological and global developments.

Every business enterprise is an integral part of the society. It uses the scarce resources of the society to continue and grow. Hence, it is important that no activity of business is injurious to the long run interests of the society—that’s where ethics comes in. However, it is observed that, in practice, there are a few socially undesirable aspects of business such as, polluting the environment, non-payment of taxes, manufacturing and selling adulterated products, giving misleading advertisement and so on. This has resulted in the development of the concept of social responsibility of business whereby the owners and managers of business are made conscious about the responsibilities of their business towards the environment.

Environmental responsibility is widely viewed as an aspect of corporate social responsibility. But the idea that business has a responsibility toward the environment is treated almost as a self-evident proposition, and the theoretical basis for such an assumption is rarely discussed. Whether the objects of environmental ethics wildlife, the natural environment, and so forth qualify as stakeholders is among the key questions that need to be reexamined.

However, when it comes to responsibility toward nature or the global environment, the objects of responsibility are non-human entities the atmosphere, soil, water, wildlife, and so forth that are not covered by traditional ethics. The concept of responsibility toward the natural world as a whole has arisen only in recent years, as human activities that interfere with natural cycles have been carried out on such a scale as to upset the balance of nature and the environment.

Environmental ethics considers the ethical relationship between business and the natural world and the kind of decisions companies have to make about the environment: Should we continue to cut down the rain forests for the sake of human consumption? Should we continue to manufacture petrol-driven cars when we have the technology to make cars which do not pollute the environment? Should we knowingly cause the extinction of other species? What are our environmental obligations to future generations? Should humans be forced to live a simpler lifestyle in order to protect and preserve the environment?

Most people recognize that our planet is in a bad way and we all seem to have an opinion on environmental issues, such as climate change or the use of four-wheel drive cars in cities. The importance of environmental ethics is brought home daily by the news of global warming and its effect on our lives, both now and in the future.

           Conclusion

All human and business activities have an impact on the environment. Indeed, each individual has an ecological footprint that represents the sum of that person’s resource use and contributions to pollution. (United Nations Environment Programme, 2009)

The government should be the one leading the preservation of the Earth. In the Philippines, current President Duterte stated that mining companies and all others who exploits the environment relentlessly have the right to mine, but in doing so, care must be exercised that we do not harm the environment. In any way we can, we must give back what we’ve taken to preserve our natural resources (Anunciado and Gita, 2017).

The success of every business depends on adapting itself to the environment within which it functions. Adjusting the relationship between business and the environment is one of the most fundamental issues businesses face and must deal with Here, organization managers have major tasks and responsibilities. Ethical principles concerning environment should be internalized by all the organizations for an effective environmental management. In order to meet their social and business responsibilities, organizations should behave like this and sustainability should be the key of their guidelines.

Ethics is an essential ingredient for today’s business success, because it is considered as a final value produced by and for the company. In other words, ethical management should be implemented to achieve not only a value that will provide a better external corporate reputation, but also a good place to work (Palomino, Gomis, Banon, & Carmen, 2011). Ethical management is not only necessary for a good business atmosphere or success of organizations, but also for environmental values.

Corporate Social Responsibility is an added bonus to the preservation of the environment. At a minimum, corporate social responsibility includes environmental issues, but it also takes on social, ethical, governance, health, and other issues (Kennedy, 2010).

The business-environment interaction is a continuous process. We primarily get our resources from the environment, and in return we should learn how to take care and preserve it. There will soon be a time wherein these resources would vanish and all of us will suffer. Laws regarding these should be properly observed because it is the way government wants to protect our environment. Business is not just about profit gains but also considers many factors that helps it operate, in this case the environment has the greatest contribution to it.

VII.           References

•                    Freeman, R.E; York, J,G; Stewart, L(2008). Environment, Ethics, and Business. Business Roundtable Institute for Corporate Ethics. http://www.corporate-ethics.org

•                    Umezo, M. (2010). Business’ Responsibility to the Environment;    

Retrieved from http://www.nikkei.co.jp

•                    Zsolnai, L (2011. Environmental Ethics for Business Sustainability. International Journal of Social Economics, 2011, vol.38, no. 11 http://laszlo-zsolnai.net

•                    Karatas, A (2015). Importance of Ethical Principles for Eco-friendly Management. David Publishing. Niğde University, Niğde, Turkey. http://www.davidpublisher.com

•                    Weiss, A. (2013). The Purpose of a Business. Retrieved from http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/the-purpose-of-a-business/

•                    Williams, J. (2017). Environmental Issues That Affect Business. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/environmental-issues-affect-business-4175.html

•                    Davoren, J. (2017).  Environmental Influence on Business. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/environmental-influence-business-68718.html

•                    Tanuja, A. (2017). Relationship between Environment and Business. Retrieved from http://www.businessmanagementideas.com/management/strategic-planning/relationship-between-environment-and-business/4787

•                    Deauna, M. & Dorado, S. (2008). Environmental science for Philippine Schools. Quezon City. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc

·                     Morgan, Lee. (2015). List of natural reources in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.list-of-natural –resources-in-the-philippines.html

·                     Narsus, B. (2015). Geography and natural resources in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/phls-natural-resources-near-brink-of-depletion/

·                     Duerr, R. (2013). Philippine’s natural riches faces dire threats. Retrieved from http://www.dw.com/en/philippines-natural-riches-face-dire-threats/a-17301439

·                     Magno, C. (2016). Beyond Responsible Mining in the Philippines. Retrieved from http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/07/05/16/beyond-responsible-mining-in-the-philippines

·                     Anunciado, D & Gita, R. (2017). Duterte to miners: stop destroying the environment. Retrieved from http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2017/07/25/duterte-miners-stop-destroying-environment-554663

Avoiding exploitation in the organization: A primary duty of 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

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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/

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“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