Let me preface: What I write will seem both heartless and cruel, but it is the truth. I am just as interested in the well-being of the Northern Mariana Island's residents as anyone else (unlike many, I have been to Saipan, albeit when I was two years old).

It sounds good to say that we are improving working conditions for the residents on Saipan and in the CNMI. In an ideal world, all workers would work in standards as good as those of the US or Western Europe. Who knows, some day that might happen with globalization and economic improvement throughout the world. Unfortunately, this measure to improve working conditions in the CNMI is, I believe, destined to backfire.

CNMI has sweatshops for two reasons: Companies need cheap labor to make their goods (in this case, clothing or other textile items); and workers in places like CNMI have few other legal employment options. As a consequence, the factories there are in conditions we consider to be deplorable, or in the words of the article, "disturbing." Unfortunately, we have little room to stand and judge, especially 8,000 miles away, since the alternative to poor working conditions is, usually, unemployment, at least for some workers.

Why is that? The gut reaction would be to say that "corporations care only about profits and not about people." This statement is only partially correct; profits are the motivation of for-profit firm, but generally well-treated workers are the most productive workers, so corporations have a high incentive to treat their workers well. The real reason has not to do per se with profits but with costs. Owning and maintaining a factory that subscribes to US working environment standards is expensive; the costs that a firm endures to bring such a factory up to par are even higher. So, the firm will either fire its workers to cut costs or will simply relocate its sweat-shop operations to a place with fewer regulations. It sounds cruel, but it's the way it is. I haven't talked to any Saipanese workers, but I'm guessing they'd rather have a job in poor working conditions than no job at all.

Its all about Greed.Its true Andrew But if companies take the labor out of this country they should be taxed to out existence. Companies should treat their worker good without their workers their will be no company.Workers everywhere make companies profit.

Viciuos Circle, isn't it?

It is a complicated issue. Having lived on Saipan for five years; I think all parties involved have done a pretty good job of developing an island community that could have never have been developed to the degree that it has to this day. There are many large corporations that have helped the CNMI along as well as small companies and government. There is as much praise as there is complaints. I for one loved living there...and would love to return!