A Decent Factory 2004

“Can a corporation balance profit-making and social responsibility? With Western multinationals outsourcing production to countries with cheaper labour, inferior working conditions and loose environmental standards, this is a central question for corporate managers, investors and customers. In Thomas Balmès’ revealing film, Finnish cellphone giant Nokia gets more than it bargained for when it decides to audit one of its Asian suppliers. Leading the mission is Nokia’s recently hired Ethics and Environmental Specialist who travels to Shenzhen, China to meet with the European and Chinese managers of a local factory and tour their facilities. The consultants don’t have to dig too far to unearth numerous violations of the already lax Chinese laws on minimum wage and working conditions… With surprising humour, Balmès presents the awkward dance between the probing Nokia inspectors and uneasy local managers, fashioning a perceptive insider’s look at a not-so-decent factory that gives new meaning to the phrase ‘Made in China.’” — Karen Tisch, Hot Docs. “Fascinating!” — Financial Times