Today, I read an article from online NY times "A Wave of Sewing Jobs as Orders Pile Up at U.S. Factory" what an intriguing articles.
It describe how difficult nowadays in United States to find a skilled labors in order to run their garment factory, particularly for sewer. Previously they tried to subcon the works to chinese or vietnamese but they realized that the quality will be a slight less, also nowadays more and more people demand "made in America" instead of from other countries. I remember back then i bought some expensive 'thing' downtown Soho, NY, was so proud of it and brought it back to Indonesia, but then years after, just realize that that 'thing' was made in Indonesia (my own country!) how fooled I was :)) Ok, back to the article I was thrill to read how they (the Airtex) try to overcome their problem in getting skilled workers by joined hands with the local communities and homeless center to attract people to get into the sewer training, some people with different interesting background, ex-con, housewives, office workers were joined the programs and turns themselves into a skillful sewer. What surprise me is how much their wages, it mentioned US$9 -$16 per hour with medical benefit. Ok put it in rupiah, that could be around IDR 20mio to 32mio per month, say it took 8 hrs per day and 25 days in a month, and.......do not forget medical benefit, even that benefit is not so easy to get as an office worker in Indonesia. Makes me think twice oh no seventh times, here I am sitting in such a nice brand new office with gorgeous view day and night, some says a high profile executive with high profile company that has international reputation and even i didn't make half of those lowest wages mentioned above, and please..do not mention about medical benefit, will put me on furious act (lol) I believe some of you guys will say, "hey that's US, consider the high living cost". But you know what, I am not talking bullsh*t, even back when I took a temporary job in US, I still can save more than my salary today, more okay! noted on that! here, that salary is still has to reduce with cost on living, transport etc. Make sense now?! I wish they think of importing workers from Indonesia, bet that that Minnesota company will be out of problem, and can start producing 'made of USA' with no hassle ;) because even here, a labor worker will die for even only $3 an hour plus medical benefit, how rare that is. Hey, I was clicking those article because I was thinking to have sewing class and maybe produce my own clothes. A bit fed up with office politics and stubbornness from people who narrow minded. ('nuff said) Just can't believe you can 'wow' yourself, by reading those insight article, that one person's pride - i mean being an executive - is nothing really valuable these days (read: in my country) compare on how they value a labor worker in a factory (read: in US). Pride or 'good saving piggy bank' gentleman? your choice.
