The Situation
The presence of modern day slavery in China’s electronics manufacturing sector is prominent with children as young as 9, forced to work in factories for an average of 10-12 hours a day without rest and unsure whether or not they will every be able to return back home. Many electronics companies target children from poor, rural areas and recruitment agents are hired by electronic corporations to employ child labourers. These agents may send money to their families on a monthly basis to persuade the child’s parents to keep their child working. Other methods of recruitment include children being kidnapped or abducted and false promises of high wages. They are then transported to other rural areas where these factories are based and may be threatened in order to prevent escape. Many of these child labourers are unsure when they will be able to return to their families.
Reports & NumbersThe China Labor Watch has documented and assessed companies operating in China for the prevalence of child and forced labour in electronic manufacturing factories for several years. It has shown that many companies are making an improvement but child and forced labour are still prominent. In Apple’s 2015 report on their factories it shows that 6 of its 633 factories still used child labour compared to its 2013 report where 19 factories used it. The China Labor Watch also reported that many factories self-imposed a 60 hour limit per week for their 12 hour shifts six times a week, well over the legal limit, all for the less than $2 per hour.
Safety RisksThey only receive 8 hours of pre-training when the minimum is 24 hours and are not warned about the dangers they may face, not knowing how to protect themselves or given any safety gear. Workers are also not protected from dangerous chemicals used to make products such as benzene which causes extreme pain.
|
Teenage LabourersTeenagers may be forced out of school and are hired as “student interns” for these electronic companies and may work in these factories to pay off debts for tuition. If they desire to quit and return to their families, their school directors may threaten to fail them. These teens are forced to work long hours and are paid low wages and refusing to work overtime may cause prohibition of working for up to a month. Identity papers and wages may be retained if these labourers attempt to escape.
Working ConditionsThe living conditions are unhygienic, with crowded dormitories up to 24 people, run by military-like security forces and mould thrives. Working toilets are rare and bed bugs are common. Sometimes workers are forbidden to sit down during their long shifts. China's factories are often harsh and oppressive with workers being abused, physically and verbally.
|
|