Reading Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle is similar to a historical ride which reveals how

complicated were the beginnings of social welfare programs and draws upon realization on how

social welfare policies evolved in the United States (US) beginning 1900s. Accordingly, it can be

adduced that the inhuman conditions described in the novel is a reflection of the actual situation

in the US particularly in Chicago during that time. It has likewise like directly mirrored one of

the worse political and economic scenarios in the history of the country.

To be more specific, “The Jungle” is Sinclair's account of Chicago’s Packingtown

(Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2008) which reflects his view of the existing cruelty in the

meat-packing industry he had witnessed. It depicts one of the worse plight of the poor

immigrants, inaccessibility and unavailability to a greater extent of social programs, inhuman

work conditions, and the total absence of positivism among the working class who seem to be

drowned in great economic depression as opposed to the enjoyment of the people in power of the

abundance they have earned through corruption at that time.

The novel primarily put into the spotlight the character of Jurgis Rudkis, who was

described as a Lithuanian immigrant to Chicago bringing along with him some relatives and

friend from the birth country. With the great expectation of finding a greener pasture and thus

live a better life, Jurgis married and secured a house through credit. Jurgis was very glad upon

securing an employment from a fictional workplace called Durham which apparently depicts

Armour and Co. which was considerably the leading meat packing company in Chicago.

Jurgis worked there as a "shoveler of guts”. Jurgis however found out and experience the

brutal policy of the company which enforce a double time work and required double amount of

output but still on the same rate of pay. It was revealed that the Durham intentionally misapplied

payment and to extreme cases skips payment to the poor workers (Sinclair, n.d.).

With the very unsanitary condition, it would not be a surprise to see unhealthy workers

with skin diseases pickling on the production area just what Jurgis did saw. Moreover, workers

were also described as facing life security risk and other vulnerability as typified in the novel, a

number of workers lost their hand because of non-worker friendly working tolls that they use. In

some worst case scenarios, workers were described as suffering from tuberculosis, coughed

constantly as they hauled 100-hunks of meat on their backs, spitting blood on the floor.

The unsanitary and inhuman working condition as described in the novel was made even

worse by the mention that public toilets within the company vicinity do not have water and soap

for the use of the workers. Moreover, in other worse areas, there is total absence of toilet and

workers just pee on a corner. One can seldom found a room to eat or a canteen so workers only

finish their meals on the same spot where they do their work. In a single important chapter of the

novel, readers were surprised and even alarmed to be informed of the recycling of the spoiled

and expired products, reprocessed through chemical treatment and selling the same to the

unsuspicious public (Sinclair, n.d.).

Jurgis misfortunes began after he was injured in the assembly line. Workers at the time

are not entitled to compensation as health assistance and insurance were non-existing as well.

His family struggled so much in order to survive and they eventually incurred lots of debt from

supposed syndicates taking advantage of the poor’s desperation. Reading further through the

novel makes one realize how their misfortunes led to both physical and moral deterioration. The

tragedy Jurgis and his family were suffering was even put to extreme state when his wife

confessed to him that her boss raped her and had imposed her submission as a condition to

staying on his work. To avenge his wife Jurgis attacked his wife’s boss which led to his arrest

and consequential imprisonment. After being released from jail, Rudkus finds that his family has

been evicted. He finds them staying with relatives, where Ona is in labor with her second child.

She dies in childbirth from blood loss at eighteen. Rudkus had lacked the money for a doctor.

Soon after, his first child drowns in a muddy street. Rudkus leaves the city and takes up drinking.

His brief sojourn as a hobo in rural United States shows him that there is really no escape –

farmers turn their workers away when the harvest is finished (Sinclair, n.d.).

Rudkus returns to Chicago and holds down a succession of laboring jobs and as a con-

man. He drifts without direction. One night, he wanders into a lecture being given by a Socialist

orator, where he finds community and purpose. A fellow socialist employs him, and he resumes

his support of his wife's family, although some of them are damaged beyond repair. The book

ends with another socialist rally, which follows some political victories (Sinclair, n.d.).

In retrospect, Sinclair’s The Jungle five important social welfare issues. First those US

immigrants at that time are deprived of security of tenure and are constantly faced with

occupational hazards and risks.

The unsafe and unsanitary housing conditions at that time were vividly depicted by the

writer in his book. Second, that workers, immigrants and non-immigrants alike, suffer from the

worst working condition that contemporary mindset can ever imagine. The writer went on to

describe the most horrible and brutal treatment that such workers suffered from as reflection of

the actual and real scenarios in the early times in Chicago. Third that the same workers and their

families do not have access to free or affordable healthcare which was especially cited by

Sinclair in her account stating the death of Jurgis wife and child as well as the mention of

workers spitting blood as they suffer both as a beast of burden and from tuberculosis. And fourth,

women during that time were exposed to various forms of sexual harassment and assaults within

their workplace and as can be assumed from the book, the unhealthy condition of Jurgis’ newly

born child can be attributed to his wife’s continuous work despite being pregnant. One can

immediately think about issues on high mortality rates as well as absence of maternity benefits

and incentives.

It may be said that the United States indeed learned something from the past and is

currently trying to improve and evolve social welfare policies and the entailing programs to

ensure that the social conditions of its citizens may never be the same as what is described in

Sinclair’s book.

At present the Americans citizens and even illegal immigrants enjoy the benefits of

Medical Benefits, Workers Compensation, Labor Laws, and Maternity Leave Incentives that the

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the Department of Labor is trying

to strictly enforce. It was in 1970 when Congress enacted the Occupational Safety and Health

Act which has consequentially mandated the creation of the OSHA. Its main purpose as

mentioned is “to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by

setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance”

(Unites States Department of Labor “Occupational Safety and Health Administration”, n.d.).

Such Act covers mostly private employers and employees, “including some public sector

employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal

authority” (Unites States Department of Labor “Occupational Safety and Health

Administration”, n.d.). Pursuant to the said act, States are encouraged “to develop and operate

their own job safety and health programs (Section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

of 1970).

OSHA is mandated to take charge in the approval and monitoring of State Health plans

and would in effect provide operational cost to implement such plan which would be fifty

percent of the proposed budget. The OSH act explicitly provides that employers are accountable

and responsible in ensuring a healthful and safe workplace. To ensure such, OSHA set health

standards which the employers must religiously comply with including among certain things the

provision of education assistance, training and outreach programs. Moreover, they are required

by the said law to ensure that the workers are free from hazards and risks. The same may vary

depending on the nature of work as intricately specified by the OSH Act Unites States

Department of Labor “Occupational Safety and Health Administration”, n.d.).

Under the same department which enforces OSHA, workers compensation benefits are

likewise ensured to be implemented by the Office of Workers Compensation Program. It

provides wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, and vocational rehabilitation. In addition

to it, it should be noted that workers benefit and incentives are properly regulated and enforced

pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act. It prescribes guidelines to follow as basic minimum

wage for workers and payment for the work in rendered in excess of the required working hours,

and notably for the benefit of both public and private employees (Unites States Department of

Labor “Fair Labor Standards Act”, n.d.).

Employers are obliged to make payment to employees who are not otherwise exempt “at

least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay of one-and-one-half-times the regular rate of

pay” (Unites States Department of Labor “Fair Labor Standards Act”, n.d.). For non-

agricultural operations, the same act limits the number of hours that a minor may render as part

of their work which most commonly the case among child actors and actresses. While those

below sixteen years old are totally prohibited in agricultural work which are deemed highly

hazardous. The enforcement of the said act is put under the administration and guidance of the

Employment Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division under the Department of

Labor (Unites States Department of Labor “Fair Labor Standards Act”, n.d.).

Based on the aforementioned premises, it can be said that the United States social welfare

policies and programs have evolved so much since the time depicted by Sinclair in his book

entitled “The Jungle”, so much cannot almost see the relic or imprint of such inhuman working

conditions in contemporary time. If at all, Sinclair’s account had become the standard of the

worst working condition which the government and the policy makers or legislators must

completely avoid and forbid.

The same serve as a reminder not only among legislators but more importantly the

workers and ordinary citizens that pursuant to both constitutional and statutory enactments,

citizens have rights to be protect and interest which must be pursued upon not only for the

benefit of one segment of the economy but also for the workers who deserve a reasonable returns

on investment without resorting to indiscriminate enforcement of unjust work policies.

Social welfare programs should be taken not as an instrument of control and subjugation

against the employer prejudicial to the business but a way of balancing power play which

obviously has always been in favor and advantageous to the capitalists. If at all, the main aim of

the government is to ensure industrial peace and avoid labor disputes and unfair labor practices.

Works Cited

Constitutional Rights Foundation (2008) Upton Sinclair's The Jungle: Muckraking the Meat-

Packing Industry. Bill of Rights in Action, Fall 2008 (Volume 24, No. 1) CRF-USA

Website. Retrieved November 11, 2013 from http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-

action/bria-24-1-b-upton-sinclairs-the-jungle-muckraking-the-meat-packing-

industry.html

Sinclair, Upton (n.d.) The Jungle. An Electronic Copy Series Publication. The Electronic

Classics Series, Jim Manis, Editor, PSU-Hazleton. Pennsylvania State University

Website. Retrieved November 11, 2013 from http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/u-

sinclair/TheJungle.pdf

Unites States Department of Labor ( n.d.). “Occupational Safety and Health Administration”;

“Fair Labor Standards Act”; The Fair Labor Standards Act” Workers Compensation”.

United States Department of Labor Website. Retrieved November 12, 2013 from

http://www.dol.gov/