Last week about 200 steelworkers marched alongside Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman in protest of Ohio jobs being relocated overseas and demanded a response to perpetual job loss in Ohio. In the Ohio House of Representatives there is a bill that would seek to protect Ohio workers by forbidding the state to contract with any company - for five years - that has a net loss of jobs in Ohio. Although the proposed legislation is a serious effort to improve the Ohio worker's life - and is a noble attempt - the bill is flawed not because of its ideals, but its lack of pragmatism.
Preserving Ohio jobs should be a priority for all state officials, but Ohio's elected officials need to develop a plan that seeks to reward companies that keep jobs in the state, instead of punishing those that don't. Bringing jobs back into Ohio and strengthening the economy by retaining well-paying manufacturing jobs will expand the company while keeping its members. And that practice would allow the company to flourish, while at the same time supporting Ohio. However, the cheap labor that companies can employ overseas - however unethical it might be - certainly produces a profit. Although detrimental to Ohio workers, penalizing those companies infringes upon a company's freedom from government regulation.
Despite several advantages and disadvantages for company managers, it is no place for the government to throw the ultimatum bill at businesses that have the right to do what is best for their individual development. Instead of penalizing companies that outsource jobs, those that don't engage in this practice should be rewarded for adapting their business strategy to accommodate the growing needs of our state. It would be wiser for Ohio to reward the companies dedicated to its well being than to penalize those companies that don't show that same level of commitment. The bill should not be passed, but rather a positive solution should be found so as not to dictate how Ohio companies are operated.
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Outsourcing bill takes wrong approach
