Question:

Why should I bother about the low pay and poor working conditions of others - surely they are better off than being unemployed ?

Answer

Mainly you should bother because providers of counterfeit goods are making themselves rich through the misfortune of others. Those involved in the manufacture of fakes are being exploited in a manner that was outlawed in Europe a century ago.

Risks : Impact on public services

Whilst it is not a severe problem (yet) the health services of individual EU member states are weakened by the need to put right any medical harm that occurs to users of fake medications and faulty pirate products.

One more worrying concern though is that as the suppliers of fake merchandise operate on the 'black market' they never pay health insurance. This dilutes the amount of money available to the health service of each member state making us all pay more in the long run.