Many workers have had to leave their families behind in rural villages and now have no social support if they need any help. City laborers for big business often live in slums without sewers, clean water or access to health centers, schools or transportation. Labor conditions, even where good regulations are ignored, can be unhealthy, inhumane and dangerous. Also, transnational corporations sometimes contribute to schools, health centers, roads and other community needs. But positive examples of globalized industry, agriculture or worker communities are very rare.
Indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable.
South Asia has the largest number of poor people but half of all Africans and many East Europeans are also poor. Developed countries have 34 million people out of work. And the most wretched of the earth's nations and people are getting poorer. In 1960, the richest fifth of the world's population had 30 times more income than the poorest fifth. By 1991, the gap had more than doubled, the richest fifth having 61 times more income than the poorest fifth.