Free Labor?

Trying to rebut charges about appalling working conditions and starvation wages in his company's tea plantations in Bangladesh, the chairman of the United Kingdom's J. Finlay company recently told the annual shareholders' meeting: "It is significant that we have no difficulty retaining labour, which indicates that the working environment is competitive."

Sir Colin Campbell added that conditions were being progressively improved, which is at least some progress over his argument when faced with similar criticism last year: "Our native workers overseas choose to work for the company on the open market, which proves they are happy and eager with their lot."

- International Union of Food
and Allied Workers'
Association Bulletin