Optimist's vindication as China proposes labour laws

The glass is half full or half empty.

When it comes to Human Rights -- realists don't make a difference. You are either an optimist or a pessimist. The reason? Realists accept the status qua and assume that any change will be too insignificant to make a difference; pessimists expect no or little change, while optimists continue to hope, work and expect to solidify these rights for all of humanity.

So, why bring this up? Because China just announced that it is passing a law that would allow labour unions to organize and participate in this Asian giant's market; their (stated) rationale: to protect worker rights.

This is a miracle. And it an optimist's vindication.

As little as a decade ago a good deal of people bemoaned the impact of human rights activism. Their arguments hinged upon nations -- such as China -- that had refused to embrace these universal truths. And any gains the activist league made, critics denounced by citing continued abuses and atrocities in these suspect nations.

But as any good optimist will tell you: Hope is not faith with evidence; Hope is faith despite the evidence.

Evidence showed that since the 1980s (when China first introduced market forces into its economy) the Asian giant has been more interested in economic evolution then in human rights. As such, the country nurtured the conditions that enabled sweatshops and illegal factories to flourish -- working conditions that time and again proved to be harmful to workers health and safety.

This new law, however, would change all of that. It would protect worker's in all factories -- including foreign-owned factories. And it acknowledges -- again -- that human rights is an essential component to quality of life, standard of living and a universal truth.

While critics continue to poke holes (analysts warn that it will be hard to enforce the law in such a large country) optimists are celebrating. Though the law is far from perfect, and though sub-standard human rights conditions continue to exist in China, this law is a step towards solidifying the need to treat people with respect and dignity. The law is also a testamont -- that despite the apparently slow pace, leaders (economic and political) ARE listening to the demands of the people.

For China, a major reason for the new law is to curb the exponential growth that is occuring in the country at the moment. While the government is pleased with the growth, Chinese officials are aware that such growth can cause massive disparity, which leads to social unrest, crime and deconstruction of community. So, their solution is to secure rights for all.

The absolute irony, however, is the protest of foreign corporations who do business in China. Rather than applaud the officials of a country infamous for human rights abuses (and rather than trumpet the success of neo-liberal markets in opening up China's door to enable changes -- such as labour laws -- to take place) these corporations are threatening to take their business elsewhere (read: no laws to get in the way of profits).

Despite the obvious hypocrisy of foreign corporations, and despite the despair offered by realists and pessimists, the announcement by Chinese officials to enact labour laws is a powerful reminder: We do not get to dictate the results, but we do get to act and if we act with integrity, for integrity, eventually things start to happen.

For more information on the proposed Chinese labour law go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/business/worldbusiness/13sweat.html?
ei=5070&en=114dc0b42e050b6b&ex=1161403200&adxnnl=1&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1160743610-e20kv0agl4KVJL6Fhp/NlQ
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8283