See Where NYC’s Manhole Covers Come From | Short Film Showcase

[@dothedeed]

Whenever you buy something and the price is too good to be true, always ask yourself "how?".

[@boo2toob]

This is considered an ordinary and perfectly good job in India.

[@Primalxbeast]

Wow, working with molten steel, barefoot in t-shirts and shorts and no gloves. That can't be safe.

[@fobudomh]

it would be soothing during winters i suppose.

[@GormHornbori]

It's slightly cheaper than having them made at a osha-compliant facility, so who cares?

[@BH-yl1ni]

+Primalxbeast It's picture of poverty & unemployment besides low education. Do you know their average life span? It's around 45-55 years. To forget their sorrows they drink country made liquor. But one of my friend has rightly said-- 'who cares? It's cheaper!'

[@thenoid5131]

you said what I was gonna say

[@sean007com]

+Steve G - Unfortunately, that would be flawed thinking. Plenty of American's died or got sick working in unsafe conditions, before meaningful reforms were implemented. Plenty of kids went to work to provide for their families, working 14-16 hour days in early days of US. Not much would have changed if they had not "complained". You'd be mistaken if you think these workers do not complain, the difference is in US there was someone listening and wanted to make a difference. In India, these complaints fall on deaf ears. The lucrative contracts that go to Indian companies exploit poor hard working people like these, and pocket all the money. They have no pressure on them to pay these workers more, make their workplace safe. Lives of these workers are cheap, one dies or gets maimed, oh well, pick the next guy in line waiting outside the factories to take his place. Fighting for safe working conditions, preventing child labor exploitation, fighting for a living wage is NOT complaining.

[@surendrakumaryadav4297]

There should be proper safety equipment for the workers, it must be taken into consideration by the Indian Government.

[@DavidMorris-ss5cs]

Just leave it to the market to sort out

[@kerimalpalt]

this is indian governemnt ,yes we will follow your instructions, we are sorry

[@rashid4490]

Yeh Indian govt. Sale nhi krti gawar Yeh yadav bus apne tote ki wjah se govt. Ko badnam krne aa jayenge

[@digpal92]

I am an Indian , but its very sad to see labours working like that with no safety and probably won't be getting that much of money they deserve, owners must be making so much of money from them as they export it to many countries so why not provide labours basic safety equipments like shoes, gloves,mask , glasses etc

[@boo2toob]

Companies don't do it voluntarily. Such exists in the West due to laws and enforcement, only.

[@wetcanoedogs]

my Mom grew up in Niagara Falls and told me when she was a kid in the late 1920's that she and the other kids would "cross the tracks" and watch,up close, the workman in a foundry making manhole covers.when i was a kid in the 50's the foundry was still there and i would go over and watch but by then a chain link fence was put up but i still could see inside.

[@TheLogicalResult]

This is what Industrial America looked like prior to labor unions, the only difference here is the absence of children.

[@theworldinthevlog9970]

tq

[@cattysplat]

The irony is child labour is literally not worth it, regardless of legality. Children are very incompetent as consistent workers, need a ton of training, have much less endurance and strength. Then high chance child will die before they become a much more productive adult.

[@Mrepifany]

I will *NEVER EVER* look at something I thought was so Insignificant as a manhole the same again. Working with *1500 degree molten steel in barefoot* and no GLOVES, no MASKS, breathing in all those *CARCINOGENS*.

[@saipruthvi8535]

No carcinogens

[@gregthegamer3046]

I know right

[@husan3701]

This Is India!🙃

[@FatesCall]

@@saipruthvi8535 I'm gonna give it a hard probably.

[@peckiledorf]

God dam pouring liquid steel bare feet wtf

[@saitheny]

+Joe Shook Thats India for you!!!

[@woodsprout]

+Sai Moopen . . .No, that's poverty.

[@saitheny]

I stand corrected!

[@Abraham_Joseph]

welcome to India. That's pretty normal here. Sad but true..

[@saipruthvi8535]

@@Abraham_Joseph dude I own a workshop in India, and my employees dont like to wear protection. All the protective gear we have, they dont want to use..

[@Pantheragatos]

I have seen made in India on manhole covers. I have always kind of wondered what the story was. I'd sure like to see the rest of this story!

[@shimmeriwoo]

I wonder how many burn wounds people have gotten from working there :/.

[@shimmeriwoo]

+bernie23232323232323 >.> Living an easier life than these people in the video..

[@markt857]

+PhotoandGrime (Pieke) Why don't you move there and help them?

[@megabigblur]

+NativePrairieWolf Just because it *could* be worse doesn't mean it *shouldn't* be better. If everybody had an attitude like yours, labor conditions in the US and other Western countries would look like this too, they would never have improved.

[@woodsprout]

+NativePrairieWolf ---- Have you ever heard of Stockhom Syndrome or similar situations?

[@l01j99]

PhotoandGrime (Pieke) I was thinking the same thing. That looks really dangerous.

[@sahilnavale6558]

Wow 👍 Proud to be Indian.

[@warren9402]

I will never complain about my desk jobs ever again.

[@thelionking3321]

Wow...they make amazing manhole covers in India, but our government fail to install a single proper manhole in the entire country.

[@boo2toob]

best comment

[@clevermonicker1887]

Bare foot in a foundry !!!?😱😱😱 I forgot what I was whining about today😭

[@Episcleritis]

These working conditions are why Upton Sinclair wrote "The Jungle".

[@swefrost-fightinggames4671]

This job looks fun.

[@milletumbles1221]

Thats my city nyc and now its pretty sad that these people do all of this just for us I wish I could do something about ut but I am just a small girl with big dreams

[@jewslikefunk]

Milletumbles The fact that you care is more than enough! Since accessibility is an issue, contribute instead by doing something to do those around you. Karma has a way of spreading itself.

[@swethachilveri4123]

@@jewslikefunk very well said!

[@thilakamsp586]

Hats off to the workers

[@uhkhil]

I'm an Indian and I'm proud to see this. This isn't any slavery as mentioned in many of the comments. These are poor people, and if they can make goods which get exported all over the world, that's brilliant. Yeah their working conditions should be improved by the authorities, it's horrible. Hell, the government/authorities should be encouraging this work.

[@BH-yl1ni]

+Akhil Kumar The Government and authorities are busy giving benefits to all 'haves'. Benefits of reservations are taken mainly by people who have minted money out of the system. Politics has become family business. The people in video belong to category- have not's! So they have to remain where they are though policies were framed/reservation are aimed to lift them up. All they have to do is put thumb impression where ever they are directed to put.

[@sean007com]

+Akhil Kumar After seeing the video, was "proud to be an Indian" really your first thought? Do you think this product getting exported to "all over the world" is unique? Pretty much every type of product is exported from India like Garments, spices, food, furniture, electronics, plastic products, parts for big construction projects, and not to mention some very cheap, good quality labor, among other thousands of things. This is not special, so proud that poor indians build things that get used all over the world is a pretty non-sensical emotion. Poor people getting stepped on, while the super rich in india can buy their kids Ferraris, Lamborginis, Rolls Royces and Rolex watches for their 18th birthdays is nothing to be proud of. Since you are an indian, and so proud of these worker's achievements, and since you think this is so special, how would you feel if that was you working in these factories and getting paid pennies, without any safety gear, insurance while your bosses yell are you to work harder and faster.

[@uhkhil]

Oh, my bad. I thought Indians were some sort of expert in foundry business given that we have been doing it since ancient times. Did a bit of research, turns out it isn't the case. India is the 4th largest iron producer plus the fact that labour is cheap makes an ideal situation for foreign countries to delegate it to us. Keeping some of that not-so-kind words of yours aside, I see your point. Cheers.

[@maruffahim46]

Akhil Kumar america make india their slaves 😫😫

[@syedz1323]

You are right and its not slave we should see that these products are of great quality export

[@levi12howell]

It'd be awesome if nat geo would cover the cost for us to watch the whole thing instead of just linking to his site. I'm sure it's for a good cause Nat

[@CJT3X]

+Levi Howell this documentary was made by a woman, not a man...

[@edwardkent8735]

It is amazing what this people do.

[@Sophocles13]

Brings new light to "watch your step" lol

[@RileyGoss]

Anyone around here ever hear the phrase "health and safety?"

[@F3lken]

+Riley Goss what about outsourcing and slave labour?

[@RileyGoss]

or capitalist greed?

[@markt857]

+Riley Goss Yes, without those manhole covers the capitalist system would fall to pieces. :) Stupid shithead.

[@UnstableAudioProductions]

+Riley Goss No, thats why its in India.

[@UnstableAudioProductions]

+Mark T Before calling someone shithead, do your homework kid. Its not just about manholes. Its about everything you can buy. There is a reason for "made in China"...

[@arnabpaul1804]

God Knows India Situation, in especially for these foundrymen, without proper equipment's they are doing their best.

[@donireland2640]

capitalism hard at work. i wonder which american corporation is getting rich off the backs of these poor souls?

[@rubenscott3972]

Every one get a little

[@zunedog31]

+Don Ireland Oh how little you know about the world! And most of it cynical. Pity.

[@RUNDNB85]

+zunedog31 no........ how little you know silly boy.

[@zunedog31]

Nick Mcguire Oh, was I talking to you?

[@RUNDNB85]

zunedog31 ....

[@mamacitachula96]

wow...I'm in shock.

[@williamgreen1696]

Where where:thorns on branches

[@squeezeme9820]

Amazing

[@MI-xk9up]

I could understand the end....

[@mrcoltar15]

Houston,tx gets them as well

[@AldoSchmedack]

Many around here are made in Wisconsin

[@deepakparab2547]

परदेशी परदेशी🤣🤣🤣🤣👌🏼👍🏼

[@hirenahir76200]

As an indian i am surprised to know why this become a whole news 😂

[@Simonjose7258]

brilliant

[@cakulha5467]

It's 2am, what am I doing???

[@astrum097]

Cakulha lol howve the last 2 years been?

[@AS-cu2rd]

rest of the US uses East Jordan and Neenah castings

[@525Lines]

God forbid cities buy stuff made in the US.

[@525Lines]

+Yuck Foutube It might cost a bit more but US cities should be obliged to buy American products. Nobody pays taxes if nobody has a job.

[@666rony]

+525Lines u cant afford if its made in america. Dont worry changes are happening in India and we will improve.

[@666rony]

lol

[@lt7114]

But America runs on slavery.

[@flow5718]

They're actually made in NC.

[@flow5718]

don't let mainstream media fool you....

[@99999bomb]

@@flow5718 where is NC

[@nealogorman1810]

Short film......you are not wrong it was about 8 frames.

[@mollyanderson9111]

The reason why some countries look like this and some don't is labor unions. That's about all. While companies are out there trasu talking and union busting remember that even in modern times, there are still plenty of businesses willing to risk your life for a barely livable wage.

[@riteshkumarchoudhary8929]

Made in INDIA

[@Abraham_Joseph]

nice

[@crush42mash6]

Dealing with molten steel in bare feet?

[@heatrider1233]

Yup.

[@wayne8377TheAwesome]

No safety clothes or rules

[@olaawad1572]

nice video

[@DurzoBlunts]

the tshirt and shorts is understandable for molds. hey making castings is dirty work with all that green sand laying around. what better way than stomping on it to pack the mold. now the molten steel guys, they need to be given at least some protection please!

[@48306jw]

What's New York, the quintessential American city, doing buying that stuff off shore? Why do they or any other city, expect loyalty from from the people who live and work there, the people who built the city?

[@saipruthvi8535]

Its cheaper to import

[@crimmywimmy666]

geeze

[@TylerDurdentyler2020]

What a horrible job.

[@zunedog31]

+Tyler Durden They don't have to do it. They want to.

[@RUNDNB85]

+zunedog31 no they need to or they will starve to death no choice here.

[@zunedog31]

Nick Mcguire If you think there is forced labor in India, you should drop back into your community college and take a basic international politics class. You are probably too lazy for that so I suggest you Google it.

[@zunedog31]

Nick Mcguire You just spelled you're wrong. Wow. Anyway, there isn't forced labor in India. Even if you're poor. This is probably one of the best places in the area to work (getting contracts with one of the richest cities on earth). Sorry there are developing places in the world. Not sure what to tell you, but forced/exclusive labor this is not.

[@RUNDNB85]

zunedog31 what fucking planet do you live on cause it ain't earth goodbye.

[@JohnPorsbjerg]

solution: tax the rich, government can then easily pay Americans to make their own damn manhole covers and afford proper safety, create more jobs in america, prevent slavery in developing countries.

[@bhabani07]

us got it in a cheap rate... plz save India's mines....

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

Cue social justice whining to improve their working conditions which results in these workers being put out of jobs because (a) cost of production increases too much OR (b) local infrastructure is simply not up to the task of providing improved working conditions. I'm shocked by the video, too, but leave it alone.

[@sean007com]

+George Donnelly Actually, I would bet that NYC is probably paying very competitive prices. They contract out with some corporation that takes most of the money, then subcontracts out to some indian Contractors, which then turn around and sub-contracts with factory owners. All these parties make very good money, but then they keep most of the money and these laborers don't get paid a deserving pay. Improving their working conditions, which could be simple as buying them safety gear isn't a big expense, but that cuts into the bottom line of the factory owners, and corporations that gave them the contracts. Either that, or they can let these guys buy their own safety gear and expense it, but come on man, doing nothing shouldn't be the option you pick.

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

Sean Shergill Doing nothing pretty much guarantees that they get to keep what little they have. Making a stink is more likely to lose them what they have. There are 7 billion people on the planet. You can't simultaneously have a good day yourself and ensure that each of the rest of us do as well.

[@brandonberyl9350]

+George Donnally If your ancestors had the same oppinon as you youd be right there with them.

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

Brandon Beryl My ancestors worked in steel mills and other dangerous occupations, so what? We climbed out of it without the benefit (or disadvantage) of social justice whining to "help" us.

[@brandonberyl9350]

+George Donnelly bullshit. prove it.

[@poetryaddict1]

such terrible working conditions

[@kylmaesjeesaisnytniinbirus978]

This would be totally illegal in Finland. No proper clothing or safety boots..? The fuck, casting molten steel with t-shirts and shorts? I mean, common sense tells me this is NOT how its done :D

[@CJT3X]

+kylmäesjeesaisnytniinbirusti22 but... this IS how it's done. Unless you think the video is fake

[@kylmaesjeesaisnytniinbirus978]

Duuuude. Yes thats how its done BUT look at their gear :) Could have been done more safely..

[@sean007com]

+kylmäesjeesaisnytniinbirusti22 I think what he's saying is in a country with laws and less corruption safety would come first. For their employers, safety gear is more expensive than the lives of these workers. It can be done safely, but that would cost more. The profit margins are high enough but their thinking is once you start showing consideration for their workers, the workers will get spoiled and keep asking for more.

[@REWYRED]

India??!! Really!! I don't agree with that, there have to be foundries local to NYC that could fabricate these...

[@boo2toob]

At the same cost?

[@foxtrotdelta225]

Working conditions from the early 1900s Jesus Christ, hope they’re doing better now

[@heatrider1233]

Not really.

[@cattysplat]

This is more like some 1000BC iron age backalley foundry, even they would likely had basic protections for their hands and feet.

[@funnyblac7755]

Who else seen those fake yeezys in the beginning

[@Noone-dp1rn]

At least they have a job to do.....and when it comes to stomach then no safety standards are seen....

[@dneunabe]

Why doesn't NYC buy American manhole covers? Neenah Foundry in Neenah, Wisconsin makes fine manhole covers. Does David Muir ABC News anchor know about this? He has a 'made in America' segment every night. Perhaps he should do a 'not made in America' segment.

[@datsunz152]

Dan Neunaber lol because the ones made in wisconsin cost 10xs more this is how capitalism works bud

[@mrbrainbob5320]

datsunz1 exactly

[@billkashin5957]

6

[@marjangeh]

I did not see one simple comment from the Indian Intellects here, why? Humanity Shame.

[@metra17007]

it sucks knowing the reality.

[@rubenscott3972]

Dam wired to watch tough it was going to be a nice vid sad

[@TheRegalRolston]

teenage mutant ninja turtles!...

[@TheRegalRolston]

+TheRegalRolston Teenage mutant Ninja turtles!!...

[@TheRegalRolston]

+TheRegalRolston TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!!!...

[@flamentous]

That's what Trump goes on about all the time, we don't win anymore. Things are made abroad instead of locally and hurts the national economy.

[@yearofthechris]

This didn’t age well… lol

[@cattysplat]

@@yearofthechris Neither will your comment in 2024.

[@fobudomh]

capitalism at its best

[@McClenaghanSR]

Aren't you glad that NYC got their manhole covers for cheap? No damage to US environment?

[@PocketAznRoxr]

Please take away their jobs because we care more about their working conditions.

[@veazix]

chicken