Ethics Case Study: Child Labor and Business Practices in Fiji

This case study presents an ethical dilemma faced by a senior manager at NuClothing International, a garment manufacturer with operations in Fiji. The manager is concerned about potential child labor practices within the company's Fijian factory, prompted by a news article highlighting the issue. The assignment requires the manager to analyze the situation, considering the perspectives of various stakeholders, including the company, employees, the Fijian community, and the manager themselves. The manager must outline the actions they would take, considering the potential outcomes and the ethical considerations involved. The case emphasizes the competing interests of economic viability, social responsibility, and the well-being of the children. The assignment calls for a critical evaluation of the situation, exploring the impacts of different decisions on stakeholders and concluding with a reasoned decision and its potential consequences.

Ethics Essay
You are a senior manager in a manufacturing company, NuClothing International Pty. Ltd., which
makes garments for the high end fashion retailers in Australia. Like many companies, the company
you work for has found that it is cheaper to move the manufacturing operation overseas. It wishes to
expand its operations hopes to find markets overseas for its products. NuClothing has recently
opened its factory in Fiji. You have been heavily involved in the move to Vanuatu and have spent
some time there ensuring that the factory is properly manned and running smoothly. During your
stay you have come to really appreciate the wonderful Fijian people and their culture.
You are reading the Fiji Times Online over your morning cup of coffee and read the following article:
Child labour worry
AN estimated 3500 people aged between six and 17 dropped out of school
between April 2010 and March 2011, says Minister for Employment and
Productivity Jioje Konrote.
He said the majority of these dropouts — 49.7 per cent — were aged 10 to 14.
Addressing a child labour training program organised by the International
Labour Organization for six regional countries, he said an employment and
unemployment survey of 2010 to 2011 highlighted the growing number of
school dropouts in the country. "The main reasons for leaving school were not
interested, cannot afford, disability or illness, family did not support them, to
help out at home, to work as unpaid family worker and other reasons," Mr
Konrote said. "Many of these out-of-school children with little qualifications end
up in child labour, forced into activities that are harmful to their health, physical,
mental and moral wellbeing."
ILO office for Pacific Island Countries specialist on strategies for decent work,
Satoshi Sasaki, said the ILO's World Report on Child Labour, Paving Decent Work
for the Young, highlighted the need for accelerated global action targeting child
labour. (Repeka Nasiko, Wednesday, July 29, 2015)
At the office
As you walk into the office, you meet a member of the Board of Directors, John Nakarawa and join
him in the lift. John was born in Fiji and mentions the same article. You voice your concern regarding
the employment of children, who then cannot go to school. John states that it is all very well for
people to say that children should stay at school, but he can also understand why some families find
it necessary to find employment for their children so that they can feed and clothe everyone. He

goes on to say that, in some countries, parents are happy to see their children in jobs because it can
mean the difference between poverty and long-term prosperity for the children. John thinks this is
little understood by people in Australia.
In your office later, mind turns back to your time in Fiji and remember that John was also on the
management team who went over. John was very involved in recruitment. On consideration, you
become worried that some of the new employees may be underage (although you don’t think that
they are 10!). What should you do?
Required
Describe what actions, if any, you would take in the above situation. Outline the possible outcomes
of those actions and how you would deal with them. There are a number of competing stakeholders
that will be affected by your decision, including yourself. Critically evaluate the situation. In your
answer, you must explore the competing ethical considerations in the case given. Include in your
discussion the impacts that different decisions may have on the different stakeholders. In your
conclusion you should outline which decision you would go with, why you have made that choice
and the possible impacts of that decision on the different stakeholders. Remember there is no right
or wrong answer.