Ethical Case

1. Problem. The Timothy & Thomas come up with new Global Guidelines for Business Partners prohibited the use of child labor, which under 14. However, this guideline is a problem in Third-World. The workers' families are poor. They do not have the ability to let children go to school. So they take children to the workplace and let the children earn some money to support life. In the interview, the children also think working in the factory is better than outside.

2. Stakeholders.

Timothy & Thomas Company: They are the one who control the global business and make the rule.

The contractors of the company in the Third-World: They hire the workers and the children. Pay them money.

The Children: They are working in the factory instead of going to school. They earn the money to support families.

The children's parents: They bring their children to the factory and let them work.

The top-manager in the company: They manage the whole company and find whether the operation is right or not.

3. Approach.

Deontological ethics: If choose this theory, the company must obey the rules and fire the children workers.

Virtue ethics: If choose this theory, the company should follow his virtues and do the good person do. They should support the children go to school and enjoy their childhoods.

Consequentialism: If choose this theory, the company should focus on the consequence. Let the children work and give them enough money to support families. This way, the company will not lose profit, too.

4. Ramifications. There are three solutions according to each theory. First, the company fires all the children workers. Second, The Company fires the children workers and gives more money for the families. Let the children have a chance to accept education. Third, the company still uses the children workers but can improve their living standards.

5. Position. I will choose second theory. Hiring the children is not moral. The children under 14 should accept the knowledge and enjoy life. It is their best time. The cold factory and doing the hard work is not belonging to them. The manager should follow his heart instead of thinking the profit or something else. What if they see their children doing these works in the factory? All children should have the same chance to get a better life. So the company should let them go to school and support them.