Foreign Manufacturing

Various shoes companies such as Nike and Reebok have been looked down upon for doing business in foreign countries. Nike and Reebok use outside contracts to produce athletic shoes. The two companies have been faced with arguments of using foreign manufacturers as “sweat shops.” Both companies have recently made strong efforts to make the public aware of the attempt to make factory conditions more humane. The companies have released statements of ethics demanding fair working conditions, while knowing factories are still treating workers poorly in some countries. Do you think the two companies are making these attempts to clean up the factories conditions to be an ethically stronger company or simply to reduce the negative stigma and increase the bottom line?