Name me one country which is civil and wealthy but has no decent labor law.
All first world countries with such laws are having the same thing happen to them. 'Globalisation' ie transference of the middle class to the 3rd world, the skilled manufacturing type jobs that can be transferred, will be transferred. Until such point that our floating dollar adjusts to suit.
Countries like Japan actively push their currency down, other like Australia are hands off. Pros and Cons for both exist, its for governments to decide how they approach it all.
Labour laws, OH&S, minimum wages in countries will push up the cost relative to the Philippine's and when unrestrained capitalism comes into play you have a breed of management/consultants like today who see big bonuses in it for themselves to make as much as possible before their tenure runs out. It all comes down to someones huge pay packet.