Is buying cheap clothes made in China a sin?

[DL82]

Is it a sin to buy cheap clothing from retailers that most likely make use of sweat-shop labour?

 

[bpbasilphx]

It would certainly be morally questionable to KNOWINGLY patronize such a company.

OTOH, were it not for the “sweat shop” these people might have no job or means of support at all.

And do you know this is necessarily the case all the time in China?

I have other issues with Chinese goods. It seems they’re trying to poison us, but maybe I’m being paranoid.

 

[budgie2]

It depends whether or not you know for certain than you can buy ethically made clothing. Just because something is sold more expensive doesn’t automatically mean the workers got paid more and the shop might be getting a greater cut. I try to buy fair trade where I can and I’d probably buy good quality material clothes that don’t wear out so I’m not leading a consumeristic lifestyle. However, if you can’t buy anything else you’re not committing a sin.

 

[lobster]

Is it a sin to buy cheap clothing from retailers that most likely make use of sweat-shop labour?

To knowingly do so is morally wrong.

Example:
Suppose ones neighbor has a forced child labor operation going on in her basement and comes up to sell bargain fabricated goods. To buy from her knowing that this is going on would be not only a sin, but make one complicit with her misdoings.

 

[wcknight]

Unless it were common knowledge or reported in the news, how would anyone know where anything is really made ???

Many Japanese cars are now made in the US and many items marked ‘made in USA’ are really made in other countries.

 

[JimG]

Chinese people need to make a living too.

Should a Muslim ask if its a sin to buy U.S. made products?

 

[lobster]

Is it a sin to buy cheap clothing from retailers that most likely make use of sweat-shop labour?

Maybe the question could be looked at another way.

Is it a sin to buy something a slave was compelled to make and that of which is then sold by the master.

 

[Nino]

well consider yourself back in the days before 1860…here in the good ole US of A…there were slave labor products for sale…sure if you bought and thus supported such cruelity I would conside that a grave sin…for you are purportrating an evil practice… China is the worlds worst dictatorship…having murdered some 60 plus million people since it came to liberate the people of China since 1949…but I realize thats no big deal…still some folks may consider that to be a valid reason to not support such a regime…would you buy items made by slave labor goods from nazi germany?..darn,there I go again compariing the left wing nazis to commies…sorry…

 

[akoso]

A lot of people answer this question by stating that it’s only immoral if it’s done knowingly. This is often followed with “if you don’t know it’s made in a sweatshop, you’re not to blame”.

But don’t we, as Christians and even just people, have a responsibility to look into this? When it’s an issue concerning the law, ignorance isn’t an excuse. If you are caught going 60 mph in a 40 mph zone, it’s irrelevant whether you knew that it was 40 mph or not… it’s your responsibility to make sure you know the laws and to follow them.

Should a similar approach not be applied to moral issues as well? Rather than claim ignorance as an excuse, why not put the responsibility on yourself to research the companies and manufacturers that you buy from, so you can buy with confidence? I’m not saying that it’s the easiest thing in the world, but any effort put in is already better than claiming ignorance.

 

[JimG]

I guess it depends on what you mean by “slave labor.” Back in the early 20th century many U.S. factories were, if not slave labor, at least exploitative sweat shops. The union movement helped improve conditions for these workers. But if the general public had simply stopped buying the products made by these workers, would they have been better off being unemployed?

In the same way, we can work to improve the economy in countries which pay less than living wages; but would these workers be better off if we simply quit buying their products?

 

[puzzleannie]

that is a personal prudential judgment there is no universal church teaching. First of all, you would have to have absolute knowledge that your other choice was also made without exploiting anyone. You would also have to extend your boycott to shoes, baseballs, electronics, household wares and other items manufactured under similar conditions.

 

[nice2000]

Maybe the question could be looked at another way.

Is it a sin to buy something a slave was compelled to make and that of which is then sold by the master.

I like how you put that question.

My answer to the question is yes, it is a sin.

Matter of fact, I sin everyday. 99.9% of the items that I/we purchase in the U.S. are “made in china”. I can barely find anything that is made in the U.S. I pray everyday that God forgive all of us for our sins.

Here are some facts about China. These facts taken from the library of Congress database.

"8 to 10 million Chinese are used in slave labor camps and factories (the loagai) to produce goods for affluent American consumers;

tens of thousands of pro-democracy dissidents are jailed, tortured, and/or executed each year, as millions of Chinese women are forced to have abortions each year;

tens (or hundreds) of thousands of babies, (especially baby girls) are slain each year as part of China s population control program; as thousands of body organs are harvested (some from live victims) and sold to recipients in the West"

---

An article appearing in the October 17, 2000 issue of the International Herald Tribune reported that the rulers of Communist China had issued a policy paper on national defense a day earlier in which the current confrontation over Taiwan was described as “complicated and grim”. According to the Tribune (cited comments are in bold),5

1. The defense report asserts that Communist China will spend $14.6 billion (in U.S. dollars) in 2000 on ‘defense spending’, even though its people are forced to abort all their children but one because the country can’t feed them. This $14.6 billion is what Communist China admits to spending on the military – but it is most likely much higher.
2. “The report asserts that China is a peace-loving nation with no ambitions to conquer other lands. But it justifies the military buildup because of ‘hegemonism and power politics,’ code words for U.S. power in Asia, and because ‘the basis for the country’s peaceful re-unification is imperiled.’”

 

[JimG]

So we should lobby for a trade embargo on all products from China? What might the consequences be of stopping all trade with China?

 

[gardenswithkids]

…But don’t we, as Christians and even just people, have a responsibility to look into this? … Rather than claim ignorance as an excuse, why not put the responsibility on yourself to research the companies and manufacturers that you buy from, so you can buy with confidence? I’m not saying that it’s the easiest thing in the world, but any effort put in is already better than claiming ignorance.

I have put in this effort and it’s often very difficult to discover this information–even when looking for it. I generally stick to a couple of brands that I trust, but occassionally buy other brands and there’s only so much research one can do when shopping with limited time and money. Incidently, this isn’t always a problem reserved for “cheap” clothing–sometimes the more expensive clothes may manufactured under bad labor conditions. This is one area where I wish our government would get involved and help stop imports of items made from sweat-shop labor.

Another moral issue at often comes into play here is the general problem of materialism in our culture. Many Americans have closests full of clothes more clothes than they can reasonably wear that were made who-knows-where under who-knows-what conditions. I like clothes. I like nice clothes. There is a limit on the amount of clothes one needs in order to look presentable. Even setting the question of sweat shop labor aside, after a certain point, sins like gluttony, greed, and vanity may enter the picture if one over-indulges in buying new clothes.

 

[akoso]

I have put in this effort and it’s often very difficult to discover this information–even when looking for it. I generally stick to a couple of brands that I trust, but occassionally buy other brands and there’s only so much research one can do when shopping with limited time and money.

I completely agree… it isn’t an easy thing to research, especially when the supply chain is so long (raw goods → manufacturers → wholesalers → distributers → stores).

This is one area where I wish our government would get involved and help stop imports of items made from sweat-shop labor.

I couldn’t agree more. Why does government not put more of an effort into this? I think if there was more pressure from the public, it would become a higher priority.

Another moral issue at often comes into play here is the general problem of materialism in our culture. Many Americans have closests full of clothes more clothes than they can reasonably wear that were made who-knows-where under who-knows-what conditions. I like clothes. I like nice clothes. There is a limit on the amount of clothes one needs in order to look presentable. Even setting the question of sweat shop labor aside, after a certain point, sins like gluttony, greed, and vanity may enter the picture if one over-indulges in buying new clothes.

Great point. I think materialism is a major issue that is ignored these days. Too often we act ignorantly and don’t look behind the curtain to see what cost things are being made. We get excited about a great sale price and the idea of spending so little money on an item we will barely lose, while children, families, and cultures are suffering for something we don’t even properly value (or really need).

 

[akoso]

So we should lobby for a trade embargo on all products from China? What might the consequences be of stopping all trade with China?

Why does it have to be all or nothing (leave it be or impose a trade embargo)? Why not put pressure on international corporations to be held responsible for their own labour practices by only supporting (i.e. buying from) those companies that treat their employees at a level that we deem suitable and respectable?

 

[JimG]

Why does it have to be all or nothing (leave it be or impose a trade embargo)? Why not put pressure on international corporations to be held responsible for their own labour practices by only supporting (i.e. buying from) those companies that treat their employees at a level that we deem suitable and respectable?

That’s a very good idea. But international corporations respond to all their customers, not just those aligned with social justice ideas. In addition, throughout the world, people may have differing ideas of what constitutes unfair labor practices, even including employees.

 

[akoso]

But international corporations respond to all their customers, not just those aligned with social justice ideas.

Right. And since they respond to their customers (i.e. us), then we can make a difference by not buying from corporations that do not subscribe to the working conditions and terms that we think are right.

I think we have a moral responsibility (not even as Christians, but just as human beings) to know where we’re spending on money and, consequently, what type of corporations and actions we’re supporting. It just always be about looking out for ourselves (i.e. the cheaper the better - regardless of the cost to others).

 

[PJM]

=DL82;5330637]Is it a sin to buy cheap clothing from retailers that most likely make use of sweat-shop labour?

***No, not always, perhaps but rarely.

I assume you mean a Mortal sin?

The three conditions would have to be present.

Serious matter [we could debate this point to]

Pre-knowledge that the act is gravely sinful [very unlikely]

Doing it depite its sinful nature willfully [again not likely]

I for one [but then I’m a guy] seldom if ever even look at origin, it has a very low level of “top of mind awareness.”

Playing Devils Advocate: One could also make a case in the current economy for the need for value in the marketplace in the average home here is the USA.

And in the same DA mode, if they were not working in sweet shops would they be working at all? [No, I do not condone the practice in any way.]

Still you raise an most interesting question of awareness and lack there of.

Thank you.***

 

[StevenFrancis]

Is it a sin to buy cheap clothing from retailers that most likely make use of sweat-shop labour?

I just wrote an almost at limit reply to this, and lost it all by doing spell check. I feel like crying. Short answer…no.

My full answer was thought provoking, but I’m very frustrated at this moment. Sorry.