Germans Slam Nokia Over Factory Closure
A widespread "BOYCOTT NOKIA" movement is forming in Germany over plans announced by the Finnish handset manufacturer to close a 2,300-employee cell phone factory in Bochum, Germany, and replace it with one in Romania. Oddly, nobody is blaming the unions for the unsustainable costs of manufacturing in Germany, nor China, which artificially depresses the expected market price for handsets by avoiding costly things like safety, employee benefits, fairness in hiring and a wide range of other unethical practices. No, Germany's knee-jerk solution is for Nokia to just suck it up and lose money in order to subsidise German unions and German employment. Germany, this is just the beginning. If you want to REALLY do something about the loss of manufacturing jobs, ban unions and boycott China.
10:02 AM * PERMALINK * 8 comments
Comments:
That's not a very realistic solution is it? Western economies thrive on low-wage countries, so there's no point in being a nationalistic isolationist. Economies are not static: never have been and never will...
the main reason for that boycott is, that nokia received funds for their facility in bochum. now they bail out - with the funds.
boycott china? thats way to late. china owns the usa. more here:
http://www.newstarget.com/z019659.html
The industrial law in Germany may be to strict and unsustainable in the long term. But the working conditions in some other countries are definitely unacceptable. European countries should work together with the Chinese government and ban Chinese products which are manufactured by companies who are exploiting their employees. Maybe the Internet also can be used to inform customers about which products to boycott if this problem cannot be solved on a political level.
So what, German workers are "entitled" to more than Romanian workers? This is free market, no?
I come to the Raw Feed for information on new and interesting technology and technology related news. The continued China bashing and political moralizing is really getting annoying. Americans have had it all their way for much too long - they should either adapt or "suck it up".
***** I come to the Raw Feed for information on new and interesting technology and technology related news. *****
One of the core differences between a magazine/newspaper and a blog is that journalistic ventures identify a target audience, then tailor content to serve that audience. Commercial blogs do that, too. So do I -- tailoring content for a target audience is what I do for a living.
But personal blogs, such as this one, don't or shouldn't do that. This blog exists to provide a place for me to write what's on my mind (and also shamelessly promote my work). What's on my mind these days, among many other things, are the vast and under-reported crimes of the Chinese government (that's why they're on my mind -- our lazy press under-reports these stories, whitewashes events and swallows Beijing propaganda).
As I should, occasionally have a point of view about events, such as Germany's response to the Nokia factory closure, which I believe is irrational. You can call this "political moralizing," but I call it "my opinion," the expression of which is one of the purposes of this blog.
I'm totally confused by this comment: "Americans have had it all their way for much too long - they should either adapt or 'suck it up.'"
Is this related to the content of this blog? For example, most of my "China bashing" is about the outright and blatant theft of intellectual property by Chinese companies, and with the encouragement of the Chinese government. When you say "Americans have had it all their way" do you mean that the enforcement of intellectual property laws is "our way" and the runaway theft of intellectual property is, what, China's way? And I'm supposed to close my mouth and suck this up?
Please explain!
Mike Elgan
Only about 5% of the cost in a mobile phone is for the actual assembly by humans. Most of the work is done by machines. That means Nokia can save a tiny fraction of their total manufacturing cost by this move.
The move appears to be the latest instance of subsidy hopping.
Thanks for responding Mike - Nice to see you actually read some of the comments that get placed here.
The fact is I do enjoy your site and the way you aggregate a lot of interesting technical news articles.
Clearly it is your blog and your right to spew what ever is on your mind - and my right to move elsewhere if I am overly annoyed.
Now that that is out of the way.
I do not dispute any of what you say related to human rights and property rights violations etc. Its not my point at all.
I own a company that imports and sells Chinese goods to American distributors who are very happy to buy them. I get more that a little sick of the hipocracy of a culture that demands cheap goods and pounds around the globe with its army twisting the arms of any country it disagrees with.
What you are seeing in China is no different that what you see in any developing nation trying to claw its way out of poverty. Do you think Americans did not take apart early machines from Europe and copy their internals a couple hundred years ago?
I do not condone the bad things that go on in China. When I speak of "adapting" I am speaking from a business perspective. It is a reality that manufacturing is moving to places like China and India and the smart western businesses are adapting and swimming with the current.
Which leaves the lazy whining masses standing in the headlights.
You write well and have excellent insights into technology. I just think that if you are going to moralize it would be nice if your coverage were more balanced. It often comes across (to me) as racist - and I don't think that is your intent.
Post a Comment
<< Home