Exploitation is the act of using something for another purpose or the act of using something in an unjust or cruel manner. In exploitation, people are being mistreated and unfairly used for the benefit of other people. Their talents, skills and work are being used for the benefit of others and little or no benefit for themselves.
With this definition, I think there are a lot of workers at present who are being exploited. What is the government doing about this situation? Are they aware of this and just simply allowing it?
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THIS IS CORRECT.
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Even though exploitation sounds horrible, is there really any other way for people to benefit? Sure, perhaps the level of exploitation can be lessened in those situations where it is bad; however, would the world be able to function if exploitation was taken out completely?
ReplyDeleteJust a thought since I'm watching this concert on TV and I was reminded of the post about artists. These artists have an immense amount of talent (still up to personal opinion though) and while some are compensated well there are those who are not compensated as much as that is how they're business in music is operated. For example, with the growing popularity of Korean music, I have heard numerous stories of how various K-Pop artists are being mistreated. To achieve their dream they have to endure an intense training session lasting for some amount of years before they come out into the music scene. Then they also have contracts that some people view as unfair that includes low pay. Some artists even end up suing their companies due to their contracts and other things. There were also articles on how some female artists may have been forced to do unwanted things such as show certain body parts to get into the business. Obviously, these articles should be taken with a grain of salt until further evidence has been proven; however, I think that this is an example of how exploitation is necessary. If these stories are true, these are pretty sad examples of exploitation, but is it stopping people from going for their dream of being an "idol"? Sure it may stop some, but there are still those that audition and never give up to make it into the music scene.
I think the main point in the end is that exploitation is necessary, but the measures taken to exploit others can be changed. Teachers, artists, doctors are exploited to some extent, yet they continue to do what they do, most anyway.
Looking at the medical scene in the Philippines, one of the main things I always hear is that there are doctors leaving to go to the U.S. as nurses. Why would you go through all those years of medical school just to end up going to be a nurse? Obviously money. These people most probably felt that they were being exploited and were under compensated, and while that may be true for many doctors, there are still those that continue to stay in the Philippines because they know that they should help their country and money is not everything. Passion for what you do and the thought of helping others and seeing them live another day allow them to endure the hardships of their exploitation.
Conclusion?
Exploitation does sound horrible, yet it seems that it is necessary for the world to go round. I'm sure the government is aware of it, and I think they allow it. I don't think I've seen the government (from what I know/heard) here or in the U.S. really bother about it. If anything, I would think it would be the people themselves who feel they are being exploited that would fight against it, not really the government.
Everyone is aware of this mechanism in our country, the workers know that they are being exploited and even the government is aware of this too. As much as the government would like to help our workers, they just don't have a hold against our business tycoons. They have grown to be very influential that even the government is having a hard time controlling them, most especially because the government would not want to offend these businessmen who do a lot for our economy. And the workers, who live with the meager wage they receive are helpless since they'd rather receive a small amount rather than receiving nothing at all.
ReplyDeleteAs Karl Marx said, exploitation has been going on for a long time and it has benefited only those who own the businesses or are higher up the corporate ladder. In a time when it is crucial to obtain a job to cater to one's needs, this exploitation tends to pervade in society with the laborers at the mercy of their bosses.
ReplyDeleteExploitation cannot be avoided, especially at present. The workers should know when exploitation is being abused and when their working skills and talents are being abused. This is when they should speak up. The government may be aware of this but do not have the proper power to stop exploitation.
ReplyDeleteExploitation has gone beyond borders. Look at how our countrymen (yes, feminists, and countrywomen) are exploited in other countries. Our doctors have become nurses, college graduates have become domestic helpers. Mothers are raising the children of others, not knowing exactly how well their own is growing. They earn money and feed their families, sure. But i think that people who are underemployed, stripped of their appropriate positions, prestige, and honor are also being exploited. Not to mention, they are far from their families, friends and everything they've come to love. It wouldn't have to be this way, if there were enough jobs in the country to support the people.
ReplyDeleteNow that i think about it, isn't our whole nation being exploited? Foreigners making use of our resources, our lands, our people.
Now, about your question, is the government doing anything about ALL these? I don't think it is. But exploitation is so BIG. Its seriously HUGE. I'm not sure that our government on its own can reduce it significantly. I think exploitation is an international issue even for the Philippines alone, especially since our countrymen are all over the globe.
TO MS MENDOZA
ReplyDeleteThat is what Marx meant. The tycoons (the bourgeoisie) will not stop exploiting the workers, otherwise they cannot make profit. They gain control of the State so their class interests can be translated into public policies and enforced on all. For the workers to counter that power, they have to organize and wage a class struggle.
Not everyone realize that exploitation exists (not even the exploited) because they existing social system has an ideological mechanism to make exploitation look legitimate, moral, in conformity with nature or divine will. Marx set for himself the task of making them realize that they are exploited, that working for wages is a form of slavery.
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TO MS CASTRO
ReplyDeleteYou cannot say "exploitation is being abused." Exploitation itself is synonymous to abuse, the worst form of abuse. You expect the workers who are so vulnerable to threats of using their jobs to "speak up"? And who will listen to them when they speak up? This is why they form labor unions, labor parties or social movements -- to force the exploiters to listen. Alone, as individuals, they are powerless.
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TO MS SORESCA
ReplyDeleteWe have indeed become a nation of servants. Our government is the only one in the world that encourages and even facilitates the export of our own people because their remittances are the country's top source of hard currency. Countries that used to far lag behind us surged forward. Filipino families used to hire Chinese amahs from Hong Kong and Singapore, now they are the ones importing Filipino domestics. How do we explain this reversal? THINK!
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Walang mapagpipilian. Isang pagmamalabis pero yan marahil ang dahilan ng exploitation. Sino ba naman ang gugustuhing maapi, magamit at mapagsamantalahan?
ReplyDeleteSa tingin ko, kung totoo man ang ideya ng malayang pagpapasya, hindi ito napagbibigyan sa karamihan ng pagkakataon. Isang patunay dito ang demand na nagsasabi ng kakayahan para bilhin ang inaalok ng industriya, pangangailangan man ito o simpleng kagustuhan lamang. Sa ngayon, marami ang gumagawa ng labag sa kalooban para maisulong ang pamilya.
Hindi ako naniniwalang maraming mapagpipilian para sa lahat. May iilan lang siguro at ang iilan na iyon ay itinakda ng kakayahan at kapangyarihan. Pero hindi rin ganoon ang nangyayari kadalasan. Mayaman ang mga Pinoy sa kakayahan, pero hindi sa kapangyarihan.
Kaya, sa tingin ko, dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ang edukasyon. Paano ko nasabi? Ang isang bansa na may mahusay na sistema ng edukasyon ay makapagbubunga ng mahuhusay na estudyante, ng matatalinong mamamayan. SILA ay kailangan para umunlad ang bansa. SILA ang makakapamili ng mahuhusay na mga pinuno para pangalagaan ang bansa at ang mga tao nito. Sa aspetong iyon, hindi ko maaasahan ang gobyerno. Ngayon pa't nauuso ang budget cut. Umaasa pa rin akong ang SILA ay magiging TAYO sa lalong madaling panahon.
Sa kabilang banda, maaari nating isiping pampalubag-loob na dahil sa exploitation, ang talento at kakayahang gumawa ay nagagamit kung hindi man napauunlad.
Concerning about the topic of Filipinos being servants, I believe that it is because some of us are contented of this situation. Unlike the Chinese, we are not confident of investing for a business, what we do is settle for being an employee. Because by creating business you will also make some job opportunities for others. No wonder that the major corporations here are owned by Chinese.
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