Belarma, Tricia Lyka

IDS41
Subject: International Political Economy
Professor: Jumel G. Estrañero

Amazon, DoorDash, Walmart, trapping workers in poverty: UN rights expert

A. News Tidbits
UN poverty expert, Olivier De Schutter, has called on the CEOs of Amazon, DoorDash,
and Walmart to respond to allegations of inadequate pay, aggressive union-busting tactics, and
the misclassification of workers as independent contractors. The expert claims that wages at
these US-based corporations are trapping workers in poverty and leading them to rely on US
Government benefits.

B. Analysis
De Schutter expressed deep concern that workers in highly profitable companies that
were mentioned above, situated in one of the world's wealthiest nations, are struggling to meet
basic needs. He emphasized that such huge corporations should be setting standards for working
conditions and wages rather than violating the human rights of their workers. The UN poverty
expert highlighted issues such as the misclassification of workers and aggressive union-busting
activities hindering workers' ability to negotiate for higher wages. The companies, Amazon and
Walmart, are accused of shifting operating costs onto the public by relying on government
benefits to supplement low wages. The expert also criticized the US for allegedly turning a blind
eye to union-busting activities, allowing powerful corporations to maintain low wages while
corporate revenues soar. He noted the US' lag in wage policies, worker protection, and the right
to organize, with around 6.3 million people classified as working poor in the country.

C. Policy Recommendations
It's disheartening to learn that the employees of some of the world's most profitable
companies are grappling with the harsh reality of poverty in one of the wealthiest nations. These
concerns are deeply troubling, in a country known for its prosperity – it is unacceptable that
multi-billion-dollar corporations are not setting the standard for fair working conditions and
wages. Jobs should be a pathway out of poverty, not a perpetuation of it. The United States, with
approximately 6.3 million working poor individuals, must reassess its wage policies, worker
protection measures, and the right to organize. The responsibility lies not only within the hands
of corporations but also with the government to ensure the protection of internationally
recognized human rights, including the right to a living wage and the freedom to join a union. It
is crucial for these big corporations and the US Government to address these issues promptly and
transparently. Workers deserve fair treatment, and the international community is watching to
ensure that human rights are respected and upheld.

News:
Amazon, DoorDash, Walmart, trapping workers in poverty: UN rights expert. (2023, October
31). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1143067