Globalization has transformed labor markets worldwide, offering new job opportunities while also raising concerns about wage suppression, job outsourcing, and worker exploitation. While some argue that globalization creates jobs, raises living standards, and improves economic efficiency, others claim that it leads to lower wages, job insecurity, and harsh working conditions in developing nations. This project challenges students to engage in an in-class debate on whether globalization benefits or harms workers, analyzing its impact on wages, employment opportunities, and labor rights.

Students will be divided into two teams. One team will argue in favor of globalization, emphasizing how international trade, foreign investment, and technological advancements have created millions of jobs, increased economic mobility, and improved worker productivity. They should examine case studies from countries like China, Vietnam, and India, where globalization has spurred rapid industrialization and lifted millions out of poverty.

The opposing team will argue against globalization, focusing on how it has led to job outsourcing, wage stagnation, and exploitative labor conditions. They should explore how multinational corporations relocate production to low-wage countries, leading to factory closures and unemployment in developed economies. Case studies from the U.S. manufacturing sector, sweatshops in Bangladesh, and labor exploitation in Latin America will provide evidence of the negative consequences of globalization on workers.

A key focus of this debate is whether globalization strengthens or weakens workers’ rights. Students should explore whether global trade agreements and multinational corporations encourage fair wages and labor protections or if they prioritize profit over ethical working conditions. They should also analyze the role of unions, labor laws, and international organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) in regulating labor standards.

The debate will conclude with a class discussion on whether globalization should be reformed to protect workers or if its benefits outweigh its costs. The goal of this project is to help students critically assess globalization’s impact on employment and whether policies should be implemented to create a more equitable global labor market.