1. What is the ethical responsibility of a manufacturer for protecting workers? Why are large plant disasters, such as the one alluded to in the article, rarely seen in US factories?
2. Should a domestic company impose ethical standards on operations located outside the country? What responsibility do manufacturers have to maintain ethical standards?
3. Who should determine the ethical standards imposed at foreign manufacturing sites? The US government? The manufacturer? The local government? Debate the issue with your classmates.
4. Critique the actions by the companies listed in the article. How effective do you feel these actions will be to assure overseas factory safety? Defend your response. What alternatives would you recommend?
5. While most people would agree that an ethical company should not purchase products directly from individuals who steal, cheat, inflict harm, or pollute, how far back in the supply chain should a company be responsible for investigating a supplier's behaviors?