Gender discrimination free essay sample

â€Å"You know, my mom always encouraged me and never made my gender an issue, I guess. She brought me up to believe in equality, as opposed to feminism or sexism so it just meant that my gender was not relevant to what I was capable of achieving. † (Faith); despite laws worldwide stating that there must be equality between females and males, sexism remains one of the most issues we face as a global society. Is sexual discrimination a hindrance which holds back our development as an advanced society and as humans? Awkwardly it is. Women are still being discriminated and maltreated at workplace and politics, and they are underestimated for their capabilities and achievements, where men tend to earn better opportunities and positions, although some may lack the qualifications that women possess. Occupational sexism is one type of discrimination being enforced on women. According to the statistics, â€Å"in 2012, female full-time workers made only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 23 percent. We will write a custom essay sample on Gender discrimination or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † (Hegewisch, pars. 1). This clearly depicts the underestimation that women experience, and the inconsideration for their hard work and perseverance. In fact it is mentioned that, â€Å"Sometimes, they are not treated equally in their workplace and are considered as inferior to their male co-workers. † (â€Å"Problems Faced by Women†, pars. 1). In male-dominated societies, in addition to lower wages for the same occupation, most women have to face daily struggles against biased mentalities and sometimes intolerant and reckless attitudes of male co-workers as stated. Women can be unappreciated for their talents and achievements, and abused for their creativity and uniqueness. Despite the fact that that some women own rare qualifications needed to attend to certain task, less qualified men tend to be treated more leniently than women in the workplace . In our society especially, female bosses are viewed to be less capable than males, where the act of leadership is most seen as a masculine position (Daily Mail, pars 1). Moreover, another form of feminism is the one being mostly manipulated by men in terms of power and dominance, political discrimination. According to a research, â€Å"in Saudi Arabia and Vatican City, women can’t vote or run for office†¦still† (Dewey, pars. 8). Prohibiting the right to vote against women has not only raised many questions concerning this act of discrimination, but it has also created acts of rebellion in many countries. Are men the only accredited humans with rights? Are women acknowledged as useless insufficient creatures? Unfortunately, although we live in this modern world of technology, the answer is clear; sexism is one of the strongest causes of retardation in the advancement of society. One simple example would be the capability of women to be more diplomatic. The aversion of women to violence and their innate roles as protectors and caregivers give them great potential for political positions in a government. The conclusion for this controversial argument is the fight for women against sexual discrimination and the establishment of effective laws against the sexes. Gender is irrelevant of one’s capabilities and talents, for females in some advanced countries are equally as successful and determined as males, if not more simply for the fact that they carry the burden of discriminated against along with their success. Therefore, the mentality of those men that support sexism should be completely modified. It is stated that, â€Å"Sexism is not the fault of women- kill your fathers, not your mothers. † (Morgan). Ultimately, it is education and the reframing of our vision for a better society and our willingness to work for a better tomorrow, that can hopefully eliminate gender discrimination.

Medical Tourism in India

Question: Discuss about the Medical Tourism in India. Answer: Discussion of Results Discussion on Hypotheses In this particular section of chapter 4, the researcher will mainly argue about all the hypotheses that have already been discussed in chapter 2 under the section of the literature review. Here, the researcher will primarily analyze that the chosen research hypotheses are whether relevant or not to the research topic. H1: India has become more competitive in terms of advance health care service and low cost advantage. For the first hypothesis, it has been discussed earlier that the country India is more competitive in terms of both advanced health care service and low cost advantage. Thus, the null hypothesis has been rejected here for this particular research study. It has been found that in the eastern part of Asia there are various countries such as Korea, Malaysia, Thailand that also provide good quality health care services to the people who visit the respective countries (Kaur 2012). However, as per the literature review or study, it has been noted that the cost for treatment or the price rate for providing the good quality health care service is relatively much less in India than in the other countries in the west like the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico (Vijayanambi and Kannan 2011). Thus, the research analysis in the literature review section indicates that the country India provides advance health care service to the inbound tourists of medical tourism at relatively cheaper cost a nd this acts a competitive advantage for the particular nation. H2: Various important factors help to attract the medical tourists to visit the country India and thus enhance and enriches the medical tourism in India. In this particular case, the second hypothesis i.e. H2 has been accepted and the null hypothesis has been rejected. The reason behind this is that there are several important factors that help the country India to attract more medical tourists and to visit the nation in order to enhance and enrich the medical tourism in India (Love 2012). These various reasons include the cost effectiveness in visiting India for the inbound tourists, the good quality of health care and services are provided in the particular nation, there are availability of various travelling convenience and several methods of treatment (Hall 2011). All these primary factors have boosted the growth of the medical tourism in India. The other factors that also affect the growth of the medical tourism in India include effective treatment for meeting the problems related to reproduction, the official language of the nation is English that also facilitates in easy communication, the affordable and reasonable prices for treatment facilities and availing accommodation also put positive impact on the particular hypothesis (Novikov and Novikov 2013). In addition to this, the mode of treatment is much easier in India. Thus, it can be said that all these factors act as a positive cause for attracting the medical tourists in India. H3: The tourism sector and the health care sector of the country India contribute a huge amount cumulatively to the GDP of the particular country. The third hypothesis is also been accepted and the null hypothesis has been rejected in this particular case. The reason behind this is that it has been founded that there is a booming prospect for the medical tourism industry in India. As per the survey research it has been noted that the Indian market for the inbound tourists is continuously expanding especially in the sector of medical tourism (Gyu 2011). It has been stated in the literature review section that the growth of GDP will take place by 13 % within next six years in the field of medical tourism (Natarajan 2011). Therefore, it can be said that the medical tourism sector and the health care sector of the particular nation India will contribute a huge amount cumulatively to the GDP of the nation (Debata et al. 2011). The other reason behind this growth is the availability of medical treatment in India at extremely lower cost. This factor has lead to the gradual development and growth of this particular industry in India. H4: The government of the country India has adopted various measures in order to improve both the tourism and medical sectors of the nation. The fourth hypothesis can also be accepted and the null hypothesis can be rejected as it has been found that the Government of the country India has adopted various measures with the aim to improve both the tourism and medical sectors of the nation. The government of the nation has reduced the taxation, thus it has encouraged the tourism sector as well as the medical sectors (Crooks et al. 2011). The reduced taxation and charges have encouraged the travel agents to provide accommodation to the inbound tourists at lower cost. The charges for medical treatment have also been reduced in order to occupy the competitive advantage regarding the cost effectiveness (Rudra 2011). Therefore, it can be said that the government of the particular nation has adopted various measures in order to improve both the mentioned sectors of the country. Discussion on Literature Review and Research Results It has been found from the literature review section that there are various factors that boost up the growth of the medical tourism in the country India. These factors are the lower cost of the treatment, the lower cost of the accommodation and food, the lower cost for the travel agents all are considered as the cost effectiveness for the inbound tourists who visit the country India (Solomon 2011). It has also been found that various treatments like the treatments related to reproduction, surgery for knee replacement all are done at relatively lower cost than any other countries like the United States, Korea, Costa Rica, Mexico, Malaysia and Thailand (Chandra and Sharma 2013). In addition to this, the high quality of the health care and services also attract the inbound visitors to India and thus high growth takes place in the medical tourism sector and also in health care and services sector (Supino and Borer 2012). Moreover, the tourism convenience in India is much friendly for t he inbound tourists and there are various methods of treatment that help the people to get well sooner and also at lower cost along with good quality of health care and services (Biddle and Emmett 2013). All these factors are considered as the positive aspect for the growth of the medical tourism in the country India. In India there are availability of various types of treatments like Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga and music and aroma therapy (6 and Bellamy 2012). All these help in enriching and expanding the opportunities of the particular country India in the field of medical tourism. Therefore, it can be said that there are various prospects of medical tourism industry in India. However, it has also been found that the country India also faces various challenges regarding the medical tourism sector though it has a greater opportunity of attracting more inbound tourists (Srivastava 2011). Recommendations Therefore, it can be recommended from the literature review section that the country India should work hard and should take various steps to overcome all the challenges that are faced by the medical tourism sector of the country. Therefore, the government of the particular country should take proper steps such that visas to the country can be obtained easily, fast and at lower expense. It has been found that many tourists have faced various troubles in communicating with the non-medical staffs as they are not well-versed in the English language. This implies that training should be provided to the non-medical staffs especially in the inter-cultural communication skills and also in soft skills with the aim to provide high quality service to the inbound tourists. It has also been noted that the travelers who visit India for the purpose of medical treatment are happy and satisfied with the lower cost of the treatment but often complain about the high accommodation and restaurant costs i n the country. Therefore, the government of the country should look after all these factors such that the continuous growth of the medical tourism can be maintained in the future. Conclusion and Future Work Conclusion Therefore, it can be concluded that the country India has recently appeared as an important center for medical destination of the inbound tourists who travel from various countries in order to get effective as well as affordable modes of treatment. The country India has the capability of providing both traditional methods of treatment as well as the most specialized and innovative healthcare systems. Thus, the wide variety of methods for treatment of various diseases is available in India and this is the main cause or reason for attracting more travelers to India for treating. This helps in enriching and enhancing the medical tourism sector of the particular country. In addition this, it has been found that the various countries of Asia such as Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore are also considered as an important destination for medical treatment or medical tourism. However, India wins over all these mentioned countries due to much convenient procedures of treatment and also d ue to lower expenses for treatment. It has been noted that the medical staffs of the particular country possess international expertise, the excellent accommodation and food services and the technologically driven diagnostic care fuel the expansion of this medical tourism sector of India. It has been found that though there are so many positives regarding the medical tourism in India, there are various challenges and issues to this specific sector that can be resolved accurately in order to run the particular sector in a positive direction. Future Work It can be stated that this particular research study will help the researchers in future. As per the research study, it has been found that the health care sector of the country India is currently earning a revenue amount of $ 17 billion and it has been expected that this will grow steadily in the near future. As per the experts and economists, it has been identified that the revenue of the country India will increase by about 13 % in coming six years in the field of medical tourism. Thus, the government of the particular country India should take proper remedial steps in order to overcome all the challenges and issues that are currently facing by the country. This specific research study is much enriched with various current information and data. Thus this research topic and the research study will help the researchers in future to study regarding the particular research topic. References 6, P. and Bellamy, C. (2012).Principles of methodology. London: SAGE. Biddle, J. and Emmett, R. (2013).A research annual. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Chandra, S. and Sharma, M. (2013).Research methodology. Oxford: Alpha Science International Ltd. Crooks, V., Turner, L., Snyder, J., Johnston, R. and Kingsbury, P. (2011). Promoting medical tourism to India: Messages, images, and the marketing of international patient travel.Social Science Medicine, 72(5), pp.726-732. Debata, B., Patnaik, B., Mahapatra, S. and Sreekumar, N. (2011). Development of an instrument for measuring service quality of medical tourism in India.IJICBM, 4(6), p.589. Gyu Ko, T. (2011). Medical Tourism System Model.International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 11(1), pp.17-51. Hall, C. (2011).Fieldwork in tourism. London: Routledge. K.S. VIJAYANAMBI, K. and Dr.R.KANNAN, D. (2011). Recent Trends in Medical Tourism in India.IJAR, 4(5), pp.619-621. Kaur, M. (2012). Medical Tourism in India.PARIPEX, 3(1), pp.64-66. Love, K. (2012).Ethics in social research. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Novikov, A. and Novikov, D. (2013).Research methodology. Leiden, Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema. R. Natarajan, P. (2011). Innovative Strategies For Enhancing the Image of India in Medical Tourism.IJAR, 4(6), pp.1-3. Rudra, P. (2011).Impacts of medical and wellness tourism centers on the communities around them. Solomon, H. (2011). Affective journeys: the emotional structuring of medical tourism in India.Anthropology Medicine, 18(1), pp.105-118. Srivastava, R. (2011).State of healthcare in India. New Delhi: DPS Pub. House. Supino, P. and Borer, J. (2012).Principles of research methodology. New York, NY: Springer.

Cognitive Functions

Introduction The functioning of human brain is one of the most complex systems studied by the scientists. Even after so many years of research, there still remain parts if the brain the functions of which are not yet known. Everything that we do is controlled by our brain even the slightest injury can have adverse effects on normal human functioning.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cognitive Functions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thomas Willis, also known as the father of neurology, was the first to suggest that different parts of the brain were responsible for different cognitive functions (Molnar, 2004). Cognitive functions may be defined as â€Å"any mental process that involves symbolic operations e.g. perception, memory, creation of imagery, and thinking; Cognitive functions encompasses awareness and capacity for judgement† (Medical Dictionary, 2010). It is now an established fact the different pa rts of human brain control different activities. To develop a better understanding, the human brain is said to be composed of three concentric layers: Central core, the limbic system, and the cerebral hemisphere (Joseph, 1992). Central Core: Most of the brain stem is a part of the central core. It controls a number of reflexes including breathing and also helps in standing upright (Atkinson, Hilgard, Atkinson, 1983). The central core is composed of cerebellum, thalamus and hypothalamus, Pons, medulla, and the reticular system (Patestas Gartner, 2006). All these part have a special function to perform, for instance the hypothalamus controls the visceral and somatic function like temperature and metabolism while the medulla takes care of reflexes such as heart beat, respiration, and blood pressure (Atkinson, Hilgard, Atkinson, 1983). The Limbic System: The limbic system is made of Amygdala and the Hippocampus. The Amygdala performs the cognitive function of emotions and the behavio ural, autonomic, as well and endocrine response to the stimulus present in the environment (Cristinzio Vuilleumier, 2007). When the amygdala is damaged, it may result in impaired emotional functioning of an individual and the lack of â€Å"social significance of sensory events†¦[such as] attention, memory [etc]† (Cristinzio Vuilleumier, 2007, pp.87). The hippocampus on the other hand is responsible for memories, their storage and retreival which is an importan cognitive function (Swenson, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on physiology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Cerebral Cortex: The cerbral cortex is the thick layer which covers the cerebrum which is filled with myelinated axons and control some of our most complex cognitive activities (Atkinson, Hilgard, Atkinson, 1983). The cerebral cortex is divided into different parts: the occipital lobe which controls vision and processes the visual information; th e Temporal lobe is responsible for smell, hearing, language, motivation, etc; the Parietal lobe which controls spatial abilities and sensory projection; and the Frontal lobe is responsible for the thought process which are required to solve problems, coordination of messages received from other parts of the brain, controls many parts of personality, concentration, etc (Atkinson, Hilgard, Atkinson, 1983). Many functions of the frontal lobe were discovered after the severe injuries suffered by Phineas Gage. Phineas Gage Phineas Gage (1823-1860) was a railroad construction foreman who suffered some extreme injuries in the head at the age of 25, when an iron rod, 1.1 mm long and 6 mm in diameter weighing 6 kg, drove through his head coming out from in left cheek (Leach O’Driscoll, 1998). After bleeding continuously for two day and five weeks of treatment by Dr. Harlow, Gage regained his consciousness and was able to go back to his normal routine (Leach O’Driscoll, 1998) . The case did not end there as Dr. Harlow continued to observe Gage after the treatment to see the effects of the injury. After the accident some significant changes were noticed in the personality of Gage by his wife and other people around him. Before the injuries, Gage was considered to be one of the most efficient workers by his employers but the change in his personality was so severe that they forced to change their opinion about him and his friends even said that after the accident he was no lone the Gage they knew earlier (Cuizon, 2009). In the accident mainly the frontal lobe of Gage was damaged and Dr. Harlow concluded that due to the damage done to frontal lobe, Gage had completely lost his social inhibition which resulted in unacceptable behaviour (Cuizon, 2009). The case of Phineas Gage, though gruesome, contributed a lot to the neurobiology in the nineteenth century. It was because of the injuries of Phineas Gage that proved functions of the frontal lobe and that diff erent parts of the brain are responsible for different cognitive functions. Gage was able to fully recover and was physically fit. The only changes noticed were in his completely changed personality which was so extreme that his family and friends found it hard to believe that Gage was the same person they knew before the accident. It is one of the most amazing cases in the medical world and has revealed many facts about the brain and cognitive functions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cognitive Functions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Atkinson, R. L., Hilgard, E. R., Atkinson, R. C. (1983). Introduction to Psychology. New York: harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Cristinzio, C., Vuilleumier, P. (2007). The Role of Amygdala in Emotional and Social Functions. Epileptologie , 78-89. Cuizon, G. (2009, March 2). The Amazing Case of Phineas Gage. Web. Joseph, R. (1992). The four ego personalities and the uncon scious child and parent within. New York: Plenum Press. Leach, J. P., O’Driscoll, K. (1998). â€Å"No longer Gage†: an iron bar through the head . BMJ , 1673–1674. Medical Dictionary. (2010). Cognitive function. Retrieved from Medical Dictionary: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/cognitive+function Molnar, Z. (2004). Thomas Willis (1621-1675), the founder of clinical neuroscience. Nature Reviews Neuroscience , 329-335.Advertising Looking for essay on physiology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Patestas, M. A., Gartner, L. P. (2006). Neuroanatomy. New Jersey: Blackwell Publishing. This essay on Cognitive Functions was written and submitted by user Bryleigh Z. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Be an Amazing and Successful Substitute Teacher

How to Be an Amazing and Successful Substitute Teacher Substitute teaching is one of the most difficult jobs in education. It is also one of the most important. It takes a remarkable person to be able to adapt effectively to all the situations that will be thrown at them as a substitute teacher. Substitute teachers are used in virtually every school across the country every day. It is vital for school administrators to compose a list of top notch people who can successfully substitute teach. Flexibility and adaptability are probably the two most important characteristics that a substitute teacher must possess. They must be flexible due to the fact that they are often not called until the morning of the day they are needed. They must be adaptable because they could be subbing in a second-grade classroom one day and a high school English class the next. There are even times when their assignment will change from the time they are called to the time they actually arrive. Although it is beneficial for a substitute to be a certified teacher, it is not a requirement or necessity. A person without formal training in education can be a successful substitute. Being a good substitute teacher starts with an understanding of what you are expected to do and also knowing that the students are going to test the waters to see what they can get away with and be equipped to deal with any obstacles. Before You Sub Some school districts require new substitutes to attend some type of formal training before they are placed on the substitute list while others do not. No matter the case, you should always try to schedule a short meeting to introduce yourself to the building principal. Use this time to let them know who you are, ask them for any advice, and find out any specific protocol they may have for substitute teachers. Sometimes it is impossible to meet with the teacher but always do so if you have the opportunity. Although meeting the teacher in person is ideal, a simple phone conversation can be extremely beneficial. The teacher can walk you through their schedule, provide you with specific details, and give you a lot of other relevant information that will make your day go smoother. Always try to obtain a copy of the school’s student handbook. Have a solid understanding of what the school expects from their students and teachers. Some schools may even have a substitute policy designed to protect substitutes from poor student behavior. Carry the student handbook with you and refer to it when necessary. Don’t be afraid to ask the principal or a teacher for clarification. It is essential to understand that every district has its own unique student handbook. While there will be similarities, there will also be significant differences. It is essential that you learn each school’s procedures for emergency situations such as a fire, tornado, or lock-down. Taking the time to have a firm understanding of what is expected of you in these situations can save lives. In addition to knowing the overall protocol for an emergency situation, it is also vital that you have knowledge of emergency routes specific to the room you are subbing in as well as how to lock the door if necessary. Being professional starts with how you dress. Make sure that you know the district’s dress code for teachers and adhere to it. It is equally crucial to understand that you are working with minors. Use appropriate language, don’t try to be their friends, and don’t get too personal with them. Meet with the School PrincipalVisit with the TeacherKnow the Student HandbookKnow Emergency ProtocolBe Professional While You Sub Arriving early is a key component of your day. There are so many things a substitute needs to do to ensure that they have a fantastic day before school begins. The first thing they need to do is to report to the appropriate place. After checking in, a substitute should spend the remainder of their time looking over the daily schedule and the lesson plans, making sure that they have a clear understanding of the material they will be required to teach that day. Getting to know the teachers in the rooms around you can provide you with a lot of assistance. They will likely be able to help you with questions specific to the schedule and the content. They may also be able to give you additional tips specific to your students that could benefit you. Finally, it can be beneficial to build a relationship with these teachers because you may have the opportunity to sub for them at some point. Every teacher runs their room different, but the overall makeup of the students in the room will always be the same. You will always have students who are class clowns, others who are quiet, and those that simply want to help. You want to identify the handful of students that will be helpful throughout the day quickly. These students can assist you with finding materials in the classroom, making sure you stay on schedule, etc. The classroom teacher will be able to tell you whom these students are if you are able to visit with them beforehand. This is the single most crucial component of being an effective substitute teacher. Students of all ages are going to push a substitute to see what they can get away with. Start the day off by setting your own expectations and rules. Don’t let them get away with anything. Hold them accountable for their actions and don’t be afraid to assign them consequences. If this doesn’t get their attention, then go ahead and refer them to the principal. Word will spread that you’re a no-nonsense substitute, and students will begin to challenge you less and less making your job much easier in the long run. The single biggest thing that will bother a regular classroom teacher about a substitute is for the substitute to deviate from their plans. The teacher leaves specific assignments that they fully expect to be completed when they return. Deviating or not completing these activities is seen as disrespectful, and you can bet that they will ask the principal not to put that substitute back in their room. Arrive EarlyGet to Know Surrounding TeachersIdentify the HelpersBe StrictStay on Task After You Sub A teacher wants to know how your day went. It is beneficial to include students that were helpful as well as the students that gave you problems. Be detailed including what they did and how you handled it. Address any issues you may have had with the curriculum. Finally, let them know that you enjoyed being in their classroom and give them your phone number to contact you should they have any additional questions. It is important that you leave the room in as good of or better condition than it was when you arrived. Do not let students leave materials or books strung out all over the room. At the end of the day, take a few minutes to have the students help pick up trash on the floor and get the classroom back in order. Leave a NoteStraighten the Room

Professional and Strategic Communications Essay

Professional and Strategic Communications - Essay Example It therefore fuses the pushing and the delivering through the communication of the best message through the right channels as measured against a well-considered communication-specific and organizational goals. Strategic communication always involves different professional disciplines that may include management, technical communication, advertising and media relations amongst other relevant disciplines. Successful strategic communication must endeavour to communicate in order to influence a target audience or group of individuals and must be rational and authentic. Therefore, strategic communication concerns itself with planning for the future, implementation of specific tactics and taking into consideration the dynamism of the environment. This paper explores both professional and strategic communication through the exploration of the important role that behaviour change plays in successful communication and the challenges in the management of communication. For effective profession al and tactful communication, it is important that the person or the organization observes certain factors. The person communicating must be able to determine his objective before embarking on the communication in that you should understand the message before expressing it to others as establishing the goal will make the communication is concise and appropriate. It is important to consider your relationship to the audience or the persons to whom the communication is intended to by keeping and adhering to your professional status in mind as you communicate to the audience in anticipation of their reaction to the message being conveyed. The person communicating must use the appropriate terminology to demonstrate his professionalism and competence in passing the message across. Professional communication dictate that the person stays in control of his body language as the audience normally evaluates the message and its intention based on the posturing and the choice or words as even th e most tactful message can repel an audience. Azjen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as espoused by Icek Ajzen is important as it helps us in the understanding the transformation in behaviour of a person as it predicts deliberate behaviour or that behaviour that has been planned. It was developed after the discovery of the fact that behaviour is not always fully voluntary and under control which was later taken as perceived behavioural control. Therefore, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) states that the actions by human beings are guided by three considerations which include the behavioural beliefs which are those that are due to the consequences of behaviour and normative beliefs that are those beliefs about the normative expectations of others. Another consideration is the control beliefs that are the belief about the presence of factors that may expedite or impede the performance of behaviour. These considerations argued by Ajz en are important in the changing of the behaviour of human beings. It is important

Labor Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Labor Relations - Essay Example Based on this premise the company maintains good relationship with its employees and this is the basic fact behind the success that the company enjoys at the international level. Every employee of the company, irrespective of the level at which he or she operates, make noticeable contribution to the overall performance of the company. This value is reflected in the activities and policies made at the managerial level of the company, which ensures that the employees are encouraged to put their best efforts so that they might help the company maximize its performance. The organizational leaders have developed the Workplace Rights Policy of the Coca Cola Company by strictly following the international standards for human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work proposed by the International Labor Organization's and also the United Nations Global Compact. This policy is equally applicable to all the members, irrespect ive of the proportion of stake it holds in the company. In all the countries in which the Coca Cola Company operates, it makes sure that the principles strictly abided by the bottling partners of the company, although these companies might operate independently as separate organizations. The company also encourages them to adopt these policies so that these partner organizations might work in a more synchronized manner with the Coca Cola Company. The labor employment policy of the company includes the following major components; freedom of Association, campaign against forced labor, campaign against child labor, freedom of collective bargaining, discrimination among laborers on the basis of cast, race or social status, working hours, proper wage rate, healthy and safe Workplace, security at the workplace and engagement of the stakeholders of the company as well as the entire community (Coca-Cola India, 2010). Labor-related issues Racial discrimination Racial discrimination is a seri ous problem for the multinational corporations. Since they operate in different countries they are required to maintain the traditions and cultures of the regions. Since they utilize the labor force of the relevant country, the management has to be conscious about the about the rights and the demands of the local labor force and make policies that would not hurt the interests of these laborers. In 2000, Coca Cola paid $192.5 million for settling a lawsuit against racial discrimination in the US segment of the company. This was aimed at changing and managing the way minority employees are treated in the country. An allegation made against the company in 2003 said that black skinned population is underrepresented in the top management of the company and they also receive less payment than their white skinned counterparts (Business-Human rights, 2013). Issues with Coca Cola Although the Coca Cola Company has a strong employee policy and believes in maintaining good relationship with la bor unions in all the operating segments in the world, the company has faced strict criticism from the public, the media and other international watchdogs. In some of the countries in which the company operates, it has been charged of providing degraded working conditions to the workers and also accused of inhuman behavior with the labor union leaders. Particularly, in the

Child labour in the global economy

Child labour in the global economy This report proposes to examine the key effects, elements and issues surrounding child labour in relation to the global economy. Through their thorough and convincing research, the authors, Eric .V.Edmonds and Nina Pavcnik (2005) estimate the number of economically active children between the ages of 5-14 years and claim that parental poverty is its main cause. However, they are hesitant to endorse the widely held belief that international policies are the solution to this global crisis; rather they suggest more domestic measures to limit it, such as affordable education and more job stimulation. They also argue that contrary to popular perception most working children engage in domestic/market work rather than in manufacturing establishments. Introduction The term Child Labour is a widespread phenomenon often equated to child abuse. In Erics footnote on What is Child Labour? He states the International Labour Organisations (ILO) definition of child labour which is defines an economically active child as a child labourer if she is under 12 and economically active for one or more hours per week, 12-14 and working more than 14hours per week or one or more hours per week in activities that are hazardous by nature or circumstance and if she is 15-17 and works in unconditional work forms of child labour (trafficked children, children in bondage or forced labour, armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, illicit activities)(ILO 2002, cited in Edmonds and Pavcnik 2005; pp.200). Edmonds asserts however that these forms of child labour are rare. He insists stating that children engage in activities which could either be harmful or beneficial depending on the type of activity and also the impact on the child should depend on what the child would be doing if not working (the childs alternative foregone). Household Survey evidence by the ILOs Statistical information and monitoring program on child labour (SIMPOC) also defines child labour as A child is defined as economically active if he or she works for wages (cash or in-kind); works in the family farm in the production and processing of primary products; works in family enterprises that are making primary products for the market, barter or own consumption; or is unemployed and looking for these types of work (ILO 2002,cited in Edmonds and Pavcnik 2005; pp.201). This is a more practical definition taking into account that most children work at home for their families; either on the farm or domestically. The rare hazardous forms of labour stated in the ILOs definition are difficult to make out in household surveys which the SIMPOC are based on thus specialized surveys are conducted by the ILO and other concerned organizations. As a result of these surveys, the ILOs SIMPOC (2002) estimates 8.4 million children engage in unconditional work forms of child labour and of these, 68 percent are in bonded or forced labour (forms of slavery). According to Edmond and Pavncik most child labourers are employed by their parents to work on the farm or domestically which goes against the widely held view that children work mainly in manufacturing establishments and other forms of employment. They argue that children also face risks in the simplest forms of labour as they get older, for example agriculture, due to exposure to toxic chemicals, harsh weather conditions, animals/parasites. Ashagrie (1997) agrees with this point stating that the self reported injury rate from child labour surveys of chi ldren working in agriculture is actually higher at 2 percent than the 9 percent level reported in manufacturing. (Ashagrie 1997 cited in Edmonds and Pavcnik 2005; pp.208) Edmonds and Pavnciks article posits an open research question as to whether the reasons children engage in these hazardous working conditions differs from the driving force of children working on their family businesses or domestic work. Literature review. Child labour in the global economy is estimated at 211million, ILO (2002), which accounts for 18 % of children, aged 5-14 worldwide. Of these, 60 % are in Asia and 23 % in sub Saharan Africa. Although Asia has a greater percentage of child labours Africa has a higher participation rate estimated at 30%. SIMPOC also estimates that 4 % of children work in transition economies (i.e. countries undergoing economic liberalization) and 2% in developed countries. The United Nations childrens educational fund (UNICEF) conducted three surveys in thirty-six less developed countries in 2000 and 2001 providing information on the participation rates in both domestic and market work for 124 million children. The first survey helps buttress Edmond and Pavcniks point on child workers engaging mainly in domestic/ market work rather than manufacturing establishments. Participation rates in various activities for 124million children 5-14 from 36 countries in 2000. All children 5-14 Age 5-9 10-14 Gender Male Female Location Urban Rural Market work (MAR) 25.0 15.3 35.2 26.6 23.3 18.9 30.5 Paid 2.4 1.0 4.0 2.8 2.0 2.2 2.5 unpaid 5.8 4.4 7.3 5.6 5.9 4.0 7.3 family 20.8 12.4 29.7 22.4 19.1 14.8 26.2 Domestic work (DOM) 64.6 50.8 79.2 59.3 69.9 60.7 67.4 Any work (MAR + DOM) 68.4 53.5 84.3 64.8 72.1 64.1 71.7 20 or more hours per week 20.7 10.3 31.8 19.4 22.1 14.1 26.4 40 or more hours per week 6.4 2.7 10.3 6.1 6.7 3.6 8.8 UNICEF End of Decade Assessment microdata, (2000). See Edmonds and Pavcnik (2005, JEP). From the table above it is evident that less than 3% of children work outside the household for pay and this is mainly the case in rural settlements rather than urban where manufacturing activities are dominant. Approximately 6% participate in unpaid work. Edmonds and Pavcnik interpret these unpaid children as those children who help their neighbours in the farm or business or could also be children receiving in-kind payments (food) as well as children who are indebted to their employees by their parents. However in contrast to this, 20.8% of children work in family businesses and of this figure, 26.2% are in rural areas and 14.8% in urban. The authors further research shows that there is an agreement with this UNICEF survey from other available data from countries like Nepal, South Africa, Vietnam, India as well as Bangladesh where child labour in its garment industry also had a figure of 1.2% unpaid children age 5-14 as cited in a 2002 child labour survey. According to the table ap proximately 65% of children work domestically and 68% work in both market and domestic work. There is a high participation rate pattern by older female children age 10-14 in rural areas. The table also shows that they tend to work longer hours than males. This is probably due to cultural domestic values. Agriculture takes the largest part of the employment sector in countries (e.g. Kenya 77% In 1998, Guatemala 63 %in 2000, Ethiopia 89% in 2001 etc) followed closely by domestic work and then manufacturing which is only a percentage of economically active children. Figures from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 2004 (FOA 2004 cited in Edmonds and Pavcnik 2005)match with this indicating that most adults work in agriculture and since most children work with their parents they also work in agriculture. There is a trade off between work and school for child labourers. Most working children attend school and the UNICEF estimates in its second survey the total hours of work in relation to different types of work as well as school attendance. The data shows that on average, children spend 26 hours on market work weekly. Children that work for their families and are unpaid spend 27hours weekly. Paid employment takes up more hours in a week and by older children. Children that take part in domestic work spend 16 hours per week .Edmonds and Pavcnik further stated that these figures should not imply that domestic work is insignificant because on average, majority of the hours spent on market work is indeed domestic work. However children that attend school spend less hours working than those who do not attend school. The third survey below by the UNICEF reports the school attendance of children aged 5-14. From the table we observe that approximately 70% of children in that age range attend school and this attendance is mainly in favour of older male boys, in urban areas. School attendance conditional on work status accounts for 74%. There is a 14% likelihood that children who do not work do not attend school but this is reflected mainly in younger children. Less than 5 % of the 30% of children that do not attend school work in market work only and we see that domestic work is more popular in this case as 32% of the 30% participate in it alone. Thus Edmonds states that in ignoring this figure of domestic work researchers would lose out on one of the segments of children not attending school. A large fraction of children, 42%, well known as idle attend neither school nor work Work and schooling status for 124million children 5-14 from 36 countries in 2000 All children 5-14 Age 5-9 10-14 Gender Male female Location Urban rural Attend school 69.5 58.9 80.8 70.768.3 75.1 63.9 Attendance rates conditional Any work Not work 73.9 60.0 64.1 80.6 52.9 82.2 75.7 72.3 61.6 57.8 80.1 68.3 64.9 52.8 Conditional on nonattendance Domestic only Market only 32.0 4.5 30.8 34.9 2.8 8.3 27.1 36.6 6.3 2.7 31.8 32.0 4.9 4.3 Both market and domestic Not work 22.0 41.5 13.1 42.2 53.3 14.6 20.3 23.5 46.2 37.1 12.8 26.6 50.6 37.1 UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey End of Decade Assessment microdata.(2002) Child labourers face consequences on schooling attainment because time spent working gives less time for extracurricular activities and might weaken their school performance. Orazem and Gunnarsson (2004) find that third and fourth graders who attend school but never work in market or domestic work perform 28 % better on mathematics tests and 19% better on language tests than children who attend school and work. Empirical evidence of this is given in an example by Beegle, Dehejia and Gatti (2004) wherein after five years of working and schooling they examined the status of young adults in Vietnam. They observed that a one standard deviation increase in the hours worked by children attending school is equated to a 35% decrease in educational attainment. Edmonds and Pavcnik however are of the school of thought that this negative correlation between working and grade advancement might reflect that low performing students engage in work rather than that work generates low-performing stude nts. Parents send their children to work not by choice but as a result of economic necessity thus Child labour is caused fundamentally by poverty and as far back as data show, there have been several policies proposed with the aim of fighting against child labour worldwide. Have these legislative acts helped solve the problem of child labour? To answer this question Edmonds and Pavncik give two examples, firstly the US Congress enacted laws prohibiting the importation of goods made by children and as a result of these sanctions, Bangladesh was said to have released over 10,000 paid child workers below the age of 14 from its garment industry in the mid 1900s. Evidently this is not drastic as the figures are a tenth of the percentage of child workers in Bangladesh. Furthermore Moehling (1999) finds little evidence that minimum wage laws in manufacturing sectors put into practice between the years 1880 and 1910 contributed to the decline in child labour during this period. In addition, the a uthors state that more recent studies show that the US House of Representatives have discussed the Child labour elimination act which would enforce punitive measures, alter financial support, and order US oppositions from multilateral development banks to 62 developing countries affected by child labour. Edmonds and Pavcnik argue that although these policies might help reduce child labour, they are not guaranteed to be successful in less developed nations where they are targeted at for these reasons enumerated in their article: Lack of available resources to implement policies (i.e. bans) mainly in cases where the children engage in market work for their parents wherein the end product contributes to the family income. Child labour policies are seen as a case of multiple equilibrium, Basu and Van (1998), whereby children that work at low wages are at one equilibrium and increased adult wages when children do not work are at another therefore defeating the purpose of the ban. Moreover according to Basus example (2003), if firms are fined for child labour, the cost of the fine increases the demand for cheap child labour as opposed to high earning adult workers in order to make more profit to offset the fine which in turn makes child labour necessary. Children that are prohibited from working legitimately might move into more hazardous forms of child labour or non exporting sectors of the economy such as prostitution however there is no scientific evidence of this. Since Poverty is the main cause of child labor it would be logical to combat child labor by A) Improving the standard of living of families i.e. increasing adult income which in turn does the following Diminishes the marginal utility of income which decreases the value of marginal contribution because as more income comes into the family form parents it eliminates the satisfaction derived from the income contribution of the child. Brings about the purchase of alternatives used in place of child labour (e.g. washing machines) Increases a childs productive level in schooling (human capital) because the family is now able to afford necessary materials (e.g. textbooks) B) Encouraging credit markets to give loans to poor households is another suggestive method because child labor has been said to be a result of credit market imperfections. Baland and Robinson 2000; Ranjan, 2001 agree with this stating Several theoretical studies emphasize that if credit markets allowed households to borrow against future earnings child labor could be much reduced C) Providing affordable education because parents would be willing to contribute to improve their childrens long run chances yet, are however left with no choice but to send their children to work due to the perceived returns to schooling. Policies have been adopted to reduce chid labour through educational subsidies. An example of such is the Progresa program in Mexico which is predominately used in many countries worldwide. It gives parents an incentive to keep their child in school. Parents are paid if the school certifies that the child has been attending school regularly. Thus it is a demand approach aimed at reducing the cost of schooling, which varies with age of the child, and increasing family income. Conclusively relying on laws and their enforcement as discussed previously, is a necessary but unsatisfactory solution to child labour. Overall, economic development interventions relevant to the underlying cause are more effective policy tools to reduce the incidence of child labour.