A Question for 52 Degrees…
I commend the young founders of 52 Degrees for establishing a legitimate, creative outlet for Kuwaiti talents. From trend savvy clothing and accessories designers to writers, artists and architects, the all-Kuwaiti company is the ultimate outlet as well as sponsor for skilled and talented individuals.
During my first visit there, I was given a brief tour of 52 Degrees’ showroom in Al-Tilal. Although it needed major de-cluttering and better lighting so one can see the products clearly, I appreciate the thought behind the showroom’s industrial layout and design. When I asked my tour guide about the reason behind the name, he said, “When temperatures in Kuwait go over 50 – 51 degrees Celsius, it’s illegal for anyone to work. This specifically pertains to construction workers, street cleaners and other laborers whose time on the job is spent outdoors.”
Now everyone is aware of the fact that this so-called law is not enforced in Kuwait. Sometimes, Kuwait’s temperature is censored so that workers would continue moiling and toiling under the hot sun. It is of no surprise that Kuwait had its share of workers who have suffered and died from heat stroke and dehydration.
My question to 52 Degrees is the following: If your company name is directly linked to the legality of working under unbearably hot temperatures, do you plan on justifying your name – literally and figuratively – by bettering the working conditions of blue collared workers through raising awareness and/or doing volunteer work?
Download MP3's...
Blackfoot - Diary of a Working Man
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Styx - Blue Collar Man
Rush - Working Man
Sam Cooke - Chain Gang
at 8:30 AM
4 Comments
The ban is not only for people whose jobs involve them working under direct sun... no employee should get out of his house if the temperature reached 51 degrees...
yet i don't think any one can do anything about it. For the temprature NEVER officially goes above 50 in Q8... since no such official recognition is provided, the most you can do for these workers is to provide cold water bottles and umbrellas :(
danderma: that's right, yet it's mostly for blue collared workers since they're the only ones that spend most of their time outdoors. the only time you and i experience the heat is when we leave the house to get into the car and then leave that to go inside an air conditioned building. but i disagree, someone can do something about it, even if it's something small like what you said, cold water and possibly hats :) but unfortunately there are a lot of fatalities surrounding this issue that can be controlled.
I just thought they were called 52 Deg to indicate that their stuff is so stylish and SIZZLING HOT like Kuwait's weather but I guess that is not CSR enough for the young, bored rich kids that own it and they had to add a bit of pointless and random 'tfilsif' to the name.
I personally think they should stick to the "STYLE NAAR" concept I thought they had, it makes better sense. That might not sell as much as sappy talk and no walk but oh well LOL
anon: that's one opinion...
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