How India's Workshops Churn Out Thousands Of Handcrafted Scissors | Risky Business
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
- Workers in the Indian city of Meerut toil away in dangerous workshops to make a simple household item: scissors. But the centuries old industry is struggling to survive because cheaper scissors from China are flooding the market.
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00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - Forging Scissor Blades
02:32 - Making Handle Casts
03:17 - Pouring Molten Brass
04:08 - Conditions In The Furnace
04:30 - Health Risks For Meerut Workers
04:46 - Breaking Apart Scissor Sides
05:45 - Sharpening The Blades
06:50 - A Superior Product In India
07:20 - Meerut's Ancient Craft
08:06 - Fierce Competition From China
09:16 - Finishing And Packaging Scissors
09:43 - A Harsh Life For Workers
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#scissors #riskybusiness #businessinsider
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The Surprising Risks Of Forging Scissors By Hand In India | Risky Business | Business Insider
It may be impressive what they can do with so little but its insane that people somehow find this acceptable. These people are being completely taken advantage, that one guy literally worked through severe burns he got because a lack of any safety concerns.... this is just depressing,
Very very sad
It's sad they haven't found out how to use toilets, properly dispose of garbage, and making a lively hood that doesn't involve scamming people.
@@fuzzyschwartz true
It's a unique Insider video where the people being interviewed are fully aware and frank about how bad things are.
Welcome to the real world
I read in a Victorian book "...no boy should never go into occupations which put metals in the air, for such a livelihood is the ruin of the lungs". How is it that modern India hasn't realised this or the importance of masks yet?
Many reasons. One of them is overpopulation. There more of something exists, the less it's worth.
This sadly applies to human life too.
And they often have no choice.
Either they do this dangerous work, or they have to work even lower paying jobs with the costs getting higher.
It's almost like they are slaves of the system, kept poor so they don't really have a decision.
They are still stuck in the past
They have. It comes down to a lack of availability, and workshop owners wanting to save money.
Its india bro
Remember the japanese Scissors making from bussniess insider they stood the test of time I sure these would too remain popular too , but much more safe and improved
no industry lasts the test of time. at one point the whole world ran off whale oil, and then the arrival of petroleum erased entire industries over night
Watch Ernest Wright Scissors , UK , Bussniess Insider
stuck between keeping traditions alive or keeping up with the times, classic rock and a hard place
@@silentstormstudio4782 I think it's the difference between artisan, custom made goods and "industries"
We used to make electronics. Now Asia makes it. We used to print our own publications. Now some Latvian company does it. We used to be able to produce our own food. Now most is imported. We used to have jobs. This is the result of "free trade".
@@Willy_Tepesyeah it’s absolutely based. 23% return last year instead of slaving a 9-5 at the ford plant. I don’t see the problem here.
I'm sorry, but artisan scissors or not, it's not worth $3 and 80% chance of lung disease, especially when there's safer modern methods of making scissors today.
Minimum wages applies to them..
Unemployment is not an option in India. People do what they have to for survival under Capitalism. The only way to stop this exploitation is toll barriers. Prioritize and stimulate local industry.
its east to say this if you are born in the west...
That's right, there are other jobs out there that won't kill you. Even in India.
And only worth 12 bucks a pair, I have shears for floral work that cost way way more
The odd part is , if yiu vidit an Italian gunmaker’ s factory floor, everything is bright , aired , excellent settings. One can only wonder what these Indian dudes would do if given the same setup. They are gold.
@gadidakodakaThat man is most likely a master too in all but title. Do not diminish the work of that Italian, he probably earned that title well, but it doesn’t mean that the Indian craftsman deserves no less praise.
@gadidakodakaSo you went to the two same craftsman and got the same results? Truly shocking
@@israeldelarosa5461 one goes to the bathroom on the street the other doesn't
@@fuzzyschwartz Don’t judge a craftsman by how they live their lives but rather by the quality of their works.
Italian gun makers makes luxury guns there are no luxury scissors, they are competing with machines, but they dont want to change.
As horrendeus the conditions people work in are, it's fascinating what they are able to make with old, worn out equipment
You ain't even watch the video bro 😭🙏
I would love to buy one of those Masterpieces. Knowing how much dedication went into it.
Ernest Wright Scissors , bussniess insider , UK
@@mastersplinter5966 you should just buy a Japanese one
Put tariffs on the Chinese scissors, win for the government and the manufacturers.
Most of the countries outside Europe and North America are like this, dangerous conditions and make next to nothing.
Pouring molten metal barefoot inches from where they are standing is one of the hardest jobs I have ever seen. They should at least wear their safety sandals.
Greedy business owners won't pay for them unfortunately.
such a shame, turned worse than their old British masters
@@MarcusAGS87 colonization was good for a lot of places but sjws wont allow anyone to say it out loud
@@zimenoschosch6764 being from a country originally colonized by Spain, not subjected to any genocide and with "low" indigenous slavery, i agree.
I feel for people likes these. I wish I can go and do something. No one cares about health there. There is nothing controlled. Please give them all the happiness in life…
this so impressive!.. I am feeling so grateful for having my life so lucky and full of care
As someone who does blacksmithing and uses a pair of scissors that's least 50 years old, i watch this and know there product is likely quite high quality compared to china's one but the workers are getting screwed especially if there is 18% tax which means the government is making a large cut + the owner and not to mention there is ways to remove smoke etc that don't cost money (have been around for centuries)
- this is exploitation but the problem is if they don't work they don't get feed but could possibly create a union of workers to stop getting screwed (life isn't simple but its always hard to see people getting screwed when it doesn't need to be this way)
Union exists, but one of such poor labour becomes their leader, starts taking up bribe from factory owner, and sets his eyes for the state senate. Thats how thing work in india
It literally looks like hell on earth
Wow. I have great, great respect for these hard-working men, toiling away for long hours just to feed their families. Knowing that this occupation will shorten their lives........Around here, I can't even find someone to mow my lawns.
Our family owns a pair of Meerut Scissors, nothing has compared to the sharpness and quality of these scissors. These things stay sharp for long, and you can make some really precise cuts with them, despite their large size.
Congratulations on supporting the endangerment of human life.
Do they export overseas?
yeah you can make precise cut because the blades don't bend like the chinese scissors... stiff blades
@@dipoboyrogu9366 Cool. They remind me of wallpaper-grade scissors that have chunkier materials.
@@TheDarkPorkins what a silly comment. should everyone stop buying from them so they can go work some even worse job that pays less? if they had a better way to make money they would. you boycotting them doesnt do what you think it does. use your head.
what a joke. they have found the most complicated, expensive and dangerous way to produce a simple product .... theses people are working with no PPE for $3 a day and they have to spend money/time transporting the different parts all over the city to different factories where other people work with no PPE to finish the final product. they don't even bother to streamline and cut down on production time/cost by using one factory to build the product because "this is the way we have alwase done it"......
I've noticed this with a few othrt products, surely they could band together and put it under one roof?
@@thorogood473 that would imply that there is any brain under the smelly skin
I suppose if they skipped a meal they could maybe save fifty cents or so per day to invest in more modern equipment to streamline their process and get all the safety gear they need. They would have to save up for quite a while though so it's possible they'll die of lung disease first. Wait, I'm sorry, what's the joke?
@@thorogood473 I'm not sure we're qualified to be giving advice to these people after watching an eleven minute insider video.
@@zimenoschosch6764 Wow, does it make you feel good to denigrate skilled but impoverished craftsmen who's only fault was being born in the wrong place at the right time?
It sucks how terrible the conditions are and the danger they work with. But I respect them for making things with quality
Huge respect to these people.
It’s what Sheffield in England is known for since the 1500s. Cutlery and associated products, including scissors.
That industry still exists today, albeit to a much safer standard due to the UK laws. Even sand casting (my job) is still risky but the best safety measures are taken otherwise you get shutdown.
The industry in Meerut/India will survive. It will dwindle like in Sheffield but it will still survive.
Too cool! I’ve seen CZcams videos of Sheffield and the industry you work in. Can take decades for a craftsman to become a Master scissors maker. Being able to judge the bend and interface between the blades then use a mallet to micro adjust them. Amazing.
Mad respect for the process.
Hard workers may god makes this manufacturing easier and safer for them ! Respect
No hearing protection. No protective eyewear. No respirator. That’s a terrible employer
we don't to live anyway.
Is the employer not the machine of capitalism?
3 dolars a day is just unfair.... No one commenting here have to work as much as does guys... We are so privileged.
That is more than double the poverty wage. It is decent enough
@@John_Smith_86 DESCENT?????? DESCENT MY DUDE????? 3 DOLLARS TO GET LUNG DISEASES ???? COULD YOU LIVE IN INDIA WITH 3 DOLLARS???
@@erickhian Absolutely. I just told you, it is over twice the poverty wage. That amount is very viable in India
Bro what are you talking about even labour gets more money than them@@John_Smith_86
3 dollars and they make 300+ scissors that sell for 12$ a piece. That’s easily more than 3500$ a day. Take out the expenses such as cheap recycling materials and rent and delivery. I think they can afford to give way more than 3$ a day. But poor indians rather work under this injustice than uprise. They used to it. Like chickens in a cage.
"Some craftsmen are now driving rickshaws or carts..." I think he meant to say some craftsmen have realized they can leave that literal hell hole, drive a scooter delivering stuff instead, and still make a living
- Has anyone noticed that every Indian video is this Indian women or is it a coincidence 🤔?
I think this channel only has 2 reporters or those that do the voicing. There's also a chance she's not actually Indian... but her accent does sound that way. 🤷♂
Havovi Cooper is of Pakistani Origin.
Im from Nepal and almost every tailor here uses same scissors. My mom also has one
Very heavy.. I have Taiwanese made scissors... 1/5 of weight of locals scissors ..and good enough for normal use
I wish they had better PPE I.e mask to help prevent lung cancer and/pr disease.
even if they have, they wont use it, its the nature of indian people... knowingly they will chose to work in bad conditions just to save some money
thats too high iq for these people
But that costs money, and when workers are cheaper than safety…
No regulations for safety equipment, shoes, or clothing. It's sad to see.
These workers deserve better.
They need some ledbars , a wall rennovation first
Personally, I refuse to buy any mundane household objects unless multiple starving people’s lives were put at risk to make it.
As someone who does blacksmithing and sandcasting, this is pretty standard stuff. But the speed at which these guys operate is truly remarkable.
Still though, I never understood why these guys don't put on some shoes... It's not like they're being forced to work barefoot right?
India is hot. Unlike the other commentators say, it's not about the cost of shoes. You can get shoes for as low as $2 or even cheaper. These factories are incredibly hot and wearing shoes makes you feel hot and uncomfortable, reducing your efficiency.
@@vallapmathur69780
Can you buy a pair online?
Well thanks for showing how depressing is seeing people getting sick while a few get rich.
Man, CZcams is filled with similar Pakistani practices. Perfect to watch when you're high and occasionally, you'll learn something new 😊
Making money is not the same as keeping it there is a reason why investments aren't well taught in schools, the examples you gave are well stationed, the market crisis gave me my first millions, people shy away from hard times, I embrace them.. well at least my advisor does lol.
yeah investment is the key to sustaining your financial longevity but venturing into any legitimate Investment without a proper guidance of an expert can lead to a great loss too
Hello, I’m 37 and I am not worth much yet , please help me out. Bought my first house last month and I can't seem to make any other smart investment.
wanted to trade, but I got discouraged with the market price fluctuations
Can you recommend a guide for me?
Haven't you heard of Expert Chrissy Barymoer ?He gives excellent guide on the right stock with high dividend
Living in Canada this is like looking into a crystal ball.
canada is turning into little india
@@Aerotyler23 they even have videos calling cities in Canada mini india. Be prepared to deal smell and noise everywhere
a floor is a nice place to start.
hi i am from meerut i have once gone to these factorys and at my grandmothers house
It seems to me that that region should invest in automatic grinding centers and injection molding.
Damn. Always a struggle. Sad.
And here I thought I had a rough day today.
These humans will achieve enlightenment and be granted paradise hundreds of years before the rich. They will be asked, do you remember anything of the suffering you endured in your past life, and they will say, no, after having witnessed Paradise. May Allah bless these humans with the highest level of Jannah ameen
You can tell this is an industry with quite the potential but doesn't get ahead because A. slowly or outright refusing to adapt new production methods, B. high tax rate (18%) and C. complete disregard of workers' safety and health. Combine all three and few people would be interested in working or investing in the scissors industry.
It's not just the job that's killing them, its the government for allowing the factory workers to get away with such unsafe conditions and for overtaxing their goods. There's no point in blaming the Chinese for making scissors cheaper quality scissors. Their product appeals to a different market. What India should do is evolve the business. Use higher quality materials and machines for the crude work but also retain enough master craftsman in order to make a more superior hand crafted artisan heirloom quality product like Sheffield has.
Incredible!!!
this industry will die. why go through so much for such a simple household item. its not economically viable in a long run. anything that can be mass produced for cheap and reach people is a win.
Well for starters, it’s a way of life for these people it’s all they’ve ever known. These ancient craft forms and techniques like scissor making have been passed down from generation to generation, And they want to stay true to that ancient arts and crafts form by using the same tools and techniques there ancestors used it’s a way of connecting to the past and leaving their own mark on the craft. Like for example a master swordsmith will say that you can tell a lot in a sword by the way it was made, by how much time, effort, love, and patience went into making that sword.
@@TANK2XxThose Master Swordsmith most likely worked in conditions 10x better than these Scissor craftsmen, even with older equipment.
The problem is they don't invest in proper equipment & safety practices... anywhere.
Its why many Indian restaurants in the US end up being the same or close down all together. Trying to take shortcuts in business never works.
That's the life of every Indian - Jugaad.
Could have 36 chickens and sell the eggs for the same wage then..
Why does Business Insider keep glorifying these conditions? @Magnum756 is correct this is shameful. BI should be using this platform to call out these business owners. No exhaust fan for the metal fumes? Really? "A burning sensation permeates through my body" that dude is going to die from these conditions and we're here watching it like it's some artisanal craft and not a horrid dystopia. Those mass produced scissors from china probably get made by people wearing shoes and working at tables with safety glasses on and exhaust for the fumes when needed, and they're still cheaper.
Do better.
They're recording what is already going on and get paid for their visit. So the businesses benefit, some even get sales from people watching online if they have a platform enabling it. These businesses could say no. The literally say in the first min or two of the video that this work puts the lives of the workers on the line.
Please point out the exact times they have glorified it.
Recording and talking about these circumstances is not glorifying.
And saying that these scissors are high quality, is neither.
Poverty porn is at its best by Business Insider. If Business Insider wants to bring change to these people they should show pre and post videos of what their video has made impact. They can arrange some fundraisers for these people's betterment. This video is only for the betterment of the BI channel
@@muralimanja5747 Why do expect journalists have to change it?
Because they made a video about it and reported on it?
If you wouldn't watch it, they most likely wouldn't film it.
You want change, but what have you done to help them?
Without their video, you wouldn't even know about it.
They keep glorifying the conditions because doing so normalises the acceptance of them.
these crafts should be treated more value like Japanese does with their crafts
Whats the link where I can buy a pair of these hand crafted masterpieces?
I thought the same 😅😅
Google: Meerut Scissors and you may find some.
@@d.k.1394Their quality is actually pretty bad and they don’t last long.
@@Ceramic_disc our 3 pairs of scissors say otherwise. They've been used in our home since before my birth. Almost 3 decades.
We need more jobs like this in America so men can be proud men again.
I think they will endure due to the quality of the scissors
I feel bad but working smarter and not harder is a choice. There are ways to improve productivity with less overhead and improved safety without sacrificing quality. They just choose the harder path because it's a selling point. If you look at Japan, they make stuff that's been made the same way for decades but they don't sacrifice safety nor quality.
18% GST on scissors...
Wah Modi ji Wah...
Without improving life of these people UP and Union government focuses on Ram Mandir..
Thank you Adithinath ji..
Why is everything so janky in India? No shoes, no protective gear, working like slaves for nothing. Why can’t they get their shit together and build businesses where the people can thrive instead of suffer. So weird.
It really is a totally different world in India where a total lack of working safety standards and proper pay is considered acceptable when in the US shops can't even open unless they have approval from a safety inspector, and pay is so much higher. And the poor houses these people live in for such fine craftsmen that they are, it's a shame.
All the bronze/brass casting without fume management they will all be suffering from Metal Fever. Zinc fumes are quite dangerous.
This is truly heartbreaking that these highly skilled and hard-working men are so exploited by the business owners who probably never got their hands dirty. So why don't they just quit and find other work, you may ask? First, they probably can't find another job that pays more than what they are making. The cost of living do never goes down and has no mercy on anyone who has to work to survive from day to day. Another factor is the pride that comes with being a skilled craftsman. When you have a skill that you learned at an early age and excel in it, it is very hard to turn your back on that. As a man who has developed many skills, it is these skills that gives us part of our identity.
May God watch over these precious men and their families. I live in the US and wish I could personally deliver goggles and dust masks to these men.= so they can be healthier.
Why is there no exhaust?
health and safty is a suggestion
Not enforceable suggestion, I might add 😮
i appreciate handmade goods, but they need to care more with their safety and health
I love the condescending nature of these videos as if these people could just walk down the street and get a job at McDonalds.
all theyd do would be to shit on the street
What exactly about the video is condescending? The video is just simply showing the process of how these scissors are made with the works discussing the significant health risks they face.
How is that condescending?
Had a bad day? Watch this and you will start feeling better about your life instantly!
When it comes to safety, these people cut a lot of corners 😅
It's a perfect circle.
So sad
Upgrade boys
THE PRIDE IN THE CRAFTSMANSHIP
“..these could explode any second!!” “oh okay hold up let me grab my flip flops.”
😅lol. (But sad really)
I think everyone in this industry knows that water in the casting mold is bad. That is why it almost never happens.
It seems that the only way to help them is for us be willing to buy them for more than they are now. Which I would do, but I have high doubts that the money actually goes back to these skilled workers. Not to mention if we are actually getting the made from them instead of some knockoff. These old looking scissors can easily be mocked
Unfortunately that extra money will never trickle down to these folks.
Their factory owners will keep it.
My brother knows a guy who exports one of the highest quality of these scissors to USA and the guy who imports them to US lists them for 230$.
I know it because I am from the city shown in the video.
why do indians never have chairs. always perplexed me
I wish there was someway to contact the workers in the video. I’d send the artisan who spent US$90 for the grinding wheel the money to pay it off. If he’s relieved of the debt perhaps he can get ahead instead of always chasing fortune.
America you have fabric scissors, which are 35$
not sure if I should get a pair or avoid them. Definitely one of the two though
These Indian made scissors in special use a really weak metal and aren’t really precise.
Why don’t they get a extraction fan that’s sucks the air though a carbon filter make one with charcoal an get a powerful fan, give your scissors a life time warranty so people buy yours ,
who is responsible for their bad conditions, govt, lack of oversight, safety checks and pure greed (to increase profit)
What's the deal with not having chairs and workbenches? I see this a lot, working on the floor, often without any protection or even shoes is just hurting my brain.
Sad
That squat position is actually easier one their backs. And sandals , you give them shoes , they might save at home.
india is a hot country no one wears shoes, sandals is the norm, the romans wore sandals too
@@user-fl6jn1wb2t but it's 2024!!!!
@user-fl6jn1wb2t it's a shame the greedy boss does not provide better safety for these hard working souls
Mmm many risky things in India 🙄
next level lmao
Its india , what do you expect from it ?
@@U.K.Nlooters have no right to lecture,
This is a tradition that is probably better if it is lost, because it is so dangerous and causes so many injuries and health problems
" Sit in the mouth of death for 24 hours a day" If that isn't depressingly dystopia, what else would be?
Their knees omg
Wow that one guy has his hands in diesel all day!?
300 hundred years and still did not learn to use shoes and basic work protection. To me that's stupidity, it doesn't matter the scissors.
People made a choice. They went with scissors that cost 1/6th the price. I bet the factories are much safer too. I'm sure there's plenty of other Indians that benefit from cheaper stuff that serves the same purpose.
Where can I buy a pair in the US?
Probably online would be my guess
I feel bad for them but i am proud of them & on me also that i had such Meerut scissors.
Thanks from heart ❤
Poverty is real 😢
This is what happens when employers give no value to their worker's life. So many things could be improved in this workshop, but it all boils down to money, and the respect the boss gives to humans which they consider inferior because of the caste system in India.
Also has anyone noticed that these workers seem to have been doing this since they were childs?
Industrialized manufacturing process will take over very quickly.
It's good to have a job.
Which is good china can manufacture that scissors at scale and cheap as possible while arguably safer. Not that china is the best as occupational safety but this video proves that there worse less efficient way of doing this. This should not stood the test of time it's so dangerous. Cast die already exist for hundreds of years. Upgrade boys
Not sure if Chinese work conditions are much better, but I've seen Chinese scissors before, made of Chinesium and plastic and they didn't cut anything.
I can’t see this being sustainable. They aren’t good enough quality to justify the labour. When I can buy a pair of Fiskars that last me a lifetime, but are a tiny fraction of the cost to produce, the math just doesn’t math.
BI videos on other countries show expert artisans in a different light but even though there are tons of artisans in India, they always show poverty and safety violations.
Watch their pakistan video of hindu workers. They blame caste system when the owner or that brick factory is mislim
Where can I buy one of these?
India
@markedilols5902
- Aren't you not supposed to play with fire? 😂
Lol
Probably not. So they either adopt the new fabrication methods, with maybe deep inspiration in the traditional method, or they'll slowly disappear. I wonder how the factory owner lives tho. I feel like he's scamming his workers at any rate.
"even though the industry is killing him he hopes it survies" why ? why not hope a better industry thrives so he can move on?
the main issue I see: they are getting paid 3USD a day, 1 pair of scissors cost 12USD. the narrator tells the story like it's the industry fault that they are risking their lives and there is nothing to do about it, but the "business man" is just stealing from the workers
"Machines could make this job quicker and safe, but he doesn't want things to change." I guess all of his fellow employees developing lung diseases is worth it?
He feels that of all the ways to sell his health and longevity to keep his family alive, that's the one that is his best option.
These workers mention multiple times in this video that the shop is covered in 2 inches of fine dust/powder. The narrator lady said some workers even get lung cancer and how a tiny piece of metal can go into the workers eye when grinding. The workers are smart enough to know safety glasses help alot with metal flakes in the eye. I guarantee all these workers wore a mask during the peak of covid 2020-2021, but yet they won't wear a mask while working in a shop that produces very harmful dust particles. A thin microscopic piece of metal in the throat or lung isn't much fun. Me being an EMT for years have seen injuries like that way too often.
To the narrator: you can fix stupid 💯
0:50 Good. Stop putting people at risk for "artisan" goods.
So many risks in this shop can actively be solved without expending much money or effort. So much of the dangers they experience are quite literally of their own design.
Horrible ventilation, no leg or face protection, overheating the brass furnace so the zinc sublimates right into their face and eyes, open toed shoes. I can't fathom what would possess someone to allow such risk to take place solely on carelessness.
That horrible leg injury that one guy suffered as a child could have been easily prevented, and it would have been as simple as temporary shin guards made from think bark or wood or any form of scrap metal with simple modification. Wet a rag and wear it around your mouth and nose while dealing with casting sand and grinding dust. PUT LITERALLY ANYTHING OVER YOUR FEET! I follow many blacksmiths in that area of the world, and all of them operate in a similar style of careless negligence. Sure the products are great, but the health risks are entirely self-imposed.