Absolutely Hilarious!
What's wrong with Unions...
View From The Porch: You've probably seen it already...
What's wrong with Unions...
View From The Porch: You've probably seen it already...
While in Indonesia I became friends with a man who owned the factory producing Air Jordans (this was 1989-90). He explained to me how he was operating his factory in Java, and how he had a very difficult time making a profit because labor costs were so high. The man did not know that I was also friends with one lady who worked in his factory. The lady explained that she was paid 1,000 rupiah for a day's work. That salary was sufficient to purchase the amount of rice her family of four needed for one day, and a few vegetables. It would not allow them to buy sugar, coffee or tea. Her husband was working as a day laborer, and his 1,000 rupiah per day allowed them to pay the rent. For the record, at the time one US$ was worth 1,000 rupiah. This account seemed impossible, so I held it in mind.
I left Indonesia in 1991 for a teaching position at an Indiana college. During the first week on campus I found an article in the Wall Street Journal revealing that production of the Air Jordan shoe had been moved from Seoul, South Korea to Bandung, Java, Indonesia because the production costs in Seoul escalated to $3/pair, while costs in Indonesia were only $1/pair. I took note because the article was referencing the factory my friend owned, at which my other friend was employed. Thus, the Wall Street Journal confirmed what I was told in Indonesia.