Child labor is condemned across the globe, but is it fair for a multinational to terminate relationships with suppliers when incidents arise regarding the use of child workers, regardless of the implications to the community as a whole? Yes it is fair for multinational companies to end relationships with suppliers when incidents arise regarding the use of child labor. It is more the responsibility of the local governments to monitor the use of child labor than it is of the company itself. There are often rules and regulations within each country that have to be followed and these would be the responsibility of the local government to enforce.

Every company that does business around the world has to be cognizant of the rules and regulations in each place that they do business. They also have to be aware of how things get done in certain places affects them everywhere. For example, in the case of Nike they had to take into consideration when making their decision about what to do, not only how it would affect the country of Pakistan but it also had to think about how it would affect the other places they did business.

If Nike continued to do business with Saga then there was a great possibility that the other companies that Nike did business with would not like the fact that child labor was being used and then they would refuse to do business with Nike. Nike had to maintain the policies that they had set down in regards to child labor. The consequences of them not upholding these policies would have...

Nike's main responsibility is to their bottom line. Each government in the country that they do business is responsible for the workers in that country. If the rules and regulations that have been established in each country do not met the rules and regulations of a particular company and there have been attempts to remedy the situation to no avail then the company has no other choice but to sever ties with those who can hurt them.
2. lf parents in economically deprived areas willingly allow their children to work in order to survive, should it be inappropriate for international companies to allow this?

Parents allowing their children to work at an inappropriate age should not be tolerated. International companies have a responsibility to no one else but themselves and their customers. A child being allowed to work under age is a problem of the local government and thus it is their responsibility to remedy it. Companies that do business internationally have the responsibility to investigate each country that they chose to do business in and make sure that the rules and regulations that exist are consistent with those of the company. If there are for example, no child labor laws in a particular country and a company does not want child labor used then they should not do business there.

In the international marketplace, child labor is frowned upon. This makes those countries who promote child labor not well respected around the globe. Companies often chose not to…