The Dark Side of the Toyota Prius

[Omaha Steve]

(edited for copyright purposes-proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3796/the_dark_side_of_the_toyota_prius/

News > July 16, 2008

By Paul Abowd

The National Labor Committee (NLC), a New York-based human rights group, has been investigating working conditions at Toyota Motor Corp., and the labor used to produce its best-selling Prius hybrid cars.

In its 65-page report released in June, NLC includes first-hand testimony of factory conditions in “Toyota City,” outside of Nagoya, Japan — less than 200 miles southwest of Tokyo — where the largest auto company in the world employs some 70,000 people.


A new report alleges that Toyota, the world's largest auto company, is violating workers' rights at Prius hybrid plants in Japan.


The report alleges that Toyota exploits guest workers, mostly shipped in from China and Vietnam. According to the NLC, these workers are “stripped of their passports and often forced to work — including at subcontract plants supplying Toyota — 16 hours a day, seven days a week, while being paid less than half the legal minimum wage.” Workers are forced to live in company dormitories and deported for complaining about poor treatment, the report finds.

FULL story at link.

[midnight]

1. Green technology should go hand in hand with better working

standards.

[ikojo]

2. I doubt that most American Prius buyers

would care about the working conditions in Japan.

[Patchuli]

3. I bet they would!

The folks I know who are buying them (and I would have too, if I had the $) are because they are under the impression that the car is produced in a 'sustainable' factory which would definitely NOT include slavery conditions. This will hurt Toyota...

[Patchuli]

4. K&R!

I seriously wanted a Prius until I read this...

[AndyTiedye]

5. They Will be Building Priuses in the US Next Year

[jberryhill]

6. Very Timely, Thank You

I just took delivery on a Smart, and was thinking of flipping it for a downpayment on a Prius, since the Smarts are going above retail on eBay.

I'm getting upwards of 37 MPG, and my wife has been asking, "When are you flipping it for the Prius?"

You just gave me the answer I needed.

No kidding - Toyota just lost a sale right now, right here.