Pro-Sweatshop?

There are only a few columnists that I read regularly and Nicholas Kristof is one of them. I have mucho respect for his views. Unlike many columnists, Kristof is a pragmatist not dogmatic nor a theorist. It's because of his pragmatism that he frequently strikes me as proposing solutions that will work rather than just pander to the doctrinaire believes of one group or another.

This column about sweatshops that Kristof penned in mid-January, while not ideal, is one such approach...

From the New York Times...

Among people who work in development, many strongly believe (but few dare say very loudly) that one of the best hopes for the poorest countries would be to build their manufacturing industries. But global campaigns against sweatshops make that less likely.

Look, I know that Americans have a hard time accepting that sweatshops can help people. But take it from 13-year-old Neuo Chanthou, who earns a bit less than $1 a day scavenging in the dump. She’s wearing a “Playboy” shirt and hat that she found amid the filth, and she worries about her sister, who lost part of her hand when a garbage truck ran over her.

“It’s dirty, hot and smelly here,” she said wistfully. “A factory is better.”

The full column is definitely worth a read.