Virtual Sweatshops?

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Ceres

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Interesting post on redOrbit about virtual sweatshops:

The internet is boasting more and more jobs that allow people to work using their home computers. The only drawback, however, is the salary: as little as one U.S. cent per hour.

What can you buy for 1 cent?

Amazon now operates a site called Mechanical Turk, which is leading the way in harnessing the army of digital laborers. Internet surfers can log on to the site and browse the tens of thousands of jobs on offer from hundreds of companies. The jobs are termed ?human intelligence tasks?, or Hits.

After trying four of the companies on the list, two of the web addresses were invalid, and the other two required much digging around to find a comprehensive list of products. With two out of four Hits completed, 20 minutes? work will pay a grand total of four cents (21⁄2p).

4 cents for 20 minutes work? What can you buy for 4 cents?

It's the first that I've heard of Amazon's Mechanical Turk website. The 'rewards' listed on the site seem ridiculously low. I think the companies are taking advantage of the fact that there are people who are so desperate for a job, they'll actually take on these low-paying jobs. What's your view?
 
I have tried using Amazon's Mechanical Turk website just over a year ago and I quickly stopped when I saw the rewards. No one forces anyone however to use sites like that so I would not really call it a sweatshop.
 
I have tried using Amazon's Mechanical Turk website just over a year ago and I quickly stopped when I saw the rewards. No one forces anyone however to use sites like that so I would not really call it a sweatshop.

I agree the company doesn't force people to use their website. However, I still think they are taking advantage of the people who are so desperate for a job that they'll take on such outrageously low paying jobs.

Perhaps they should introduce a minimum wage for such online jobs. What say you?
 
How would you install a minimum wage for such jobs as the sites are owned by people from around the world. In the US the minimum wage might be 10 dollars an hour whist in China it might be a dollar per hour.
 
How would you install a minimum wage for such jobs as the sites are owned by people from around the world. In the US the minimum wage might be 10 dollars an hour whist in China it might be a dollar per hour.

jamesb, I realize that there'd be way too many problems with introducing an online minimum wage. Sorry if I wasn't clear, but my suggestion wasn't a serious one. ;)
 
Hi Ceres,

I do agree with you up to a certain extent as a some type of fair wages would be ideal. The problem is that people from developing country are often willing to work for peanuts which has lead to these low wages being offered for online work.
 
Interesting post on redOrbit about virtual sweatshops:



What can you buy for 1 cent?





4 cents for 20 minutes work? What can you buy for 4 cents?

It's the first that I've heard of Amazon's Mechanical Turk website. The 'rewards' listed on the site seem ridiculously low. I think the companies are taking advantage of the fact that there are people who are so desperate for a job, they'll actually take on these low-paying jobs. What's your view?
I'm really sorry for this situation! I am sure that there must be some laws to stop such dreadful things. These companies consider that jobless people have no rights to defend themselves.
 
Human rights violation... that is a pretty big statement / claim. No one is forcing anyone to work on that site. Some people might think that it is fun and they really don't care about the few bucks which they can earn on there.
 
Human rights violation... that is a pretty big statement / claim. No one is forcing anyone to work on that site. Some people might think that it is fun and they really don't care about the few bucks which they can earn on there.

May be you are right but may be not. I am sure that there must be some borders in which you can use the situation. For example no one is forcing anyone to consume drugs but there are many countries where it is considered as a crime.
 
That is like comparing apples and pears. There are so many sites out there where you can make money so why bother with that particular site. Some forums for example offer profit sharing but its only pennies a month. Do you want to take them out as well?
 

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