Technicians go on strike in Sweden over what they described as a “typical U.S. model”: six-day workweeks, unavoidable overtime and an unclear evaluation system for promotion.
Incident Tag: Excessive Work Hours
Work hours exceeding the limit of 48 hours/week.
The ILO Hours of Work (Industry) Convention (No. 1) of 1919 introduced a maximum standard working time of 48 hours per week and eight hours per day as an international norm. In several exceptional cases, working time is allowed to exceed these limits, as long
as daily working time remains not higher than ten hours, and weekly working time not higher than 56 hours.
“The ILO conventions that address working hours have established a maximum of 48 hours per week plus 12 hours of overtime and this can only be applied on a sometime basis.”
Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30)
These two Conventions set the general standard at 48 regular hours of
work per week, with a maximum of 8 hours per day.
Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14)
Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106)
Set the general standard that workers shall enjoy a rest period of at least
24 consecutive hours every 7 days.
Holidays with Pay Convention (Revised), 1970 (No. 132)
Every person to whom the Convention applies shall enjoy at least three
working weeks of annual paid holiday for one year of service.
Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175)
Requires ratifying states to ensure that part-time workers receive the same
protection, basic wage and social security, as well as employment conditions
equivalent to those accorded to comparable full-time workers.
Labour conditions at foreign electronics manufacturing companies in Brazil (Foxconn, Manaus, February)
Violations encountered at factory (5.000 workers) producing phones and tablets; over 10-hour dauly shifts; illegal overtime; denial of one rest day per week; violations of ergonomic standards precarious to workers.
Apple’s Unkept Promises: Investigation of Three Pegatron Group Factories Supplying to Apple (RiTeng)
Labor violations at factory producing exterior components for computers: hiring discrimination over gender and age (below 35 years old); inadequate training; work 7 days/week during peak season (126 hours of monthly overtime); 14 hour monthly unpaid overtime; 12 hour daily shifts; more if daily quota isn’t met; coerced overtime; work while standing for some workers; inadequate fire protection; 40 confirmed student workers (16 – 18 years old); base salary inadequate to cover basic needs ($233 month) ($1.34 per hour); workers dependent on overtime; workers trained by management during audit visits; wastewater poured into the sewage system.
The Blind _ A report on methanol poisoning cases in supply chains for Samsung and LG Electronics in KOREA
Report exposes occupational hazard and other violations at factories manufacturing cell phone parts: use of toxic substance methanol; inadequate health and safety training on the dangers of methanol; personal protective equipment not provided which led to exposure to workers’ eyes, skin and respiratory system; at least 6 workers developed acute methanol poisoning; eye sight loss and brain damage; 12 hour daily shifts; in busy season take a day-off/month; temporary workers often not registered for social insurance.
Samsung’s sub-standard labour practices in India
Interviews underline labor concerns at Samsung facility (~2, 500 workers) manufacturing air-conditions and refrigerators: salaries not enough to meet monthly expenses and to provide for their families; monthly wages between Rs 6,200 – Rs 12,000 ($92 – $178); hiring of contract workers/apprentices for the same work, but lower pay; 10-11 hour daily shifts during high season, 6-7 days/week; cases of unpaid overtime wage; compulsory overtime; workers victimised, dismissed, or put under pressure to resign, if they attempt to unionise.
The Myanmar Dilemma (factory 9)
Labor violations at garment factory (1,500 workers): non-living wages; daily base wage 1,800-3,600 kyat (€1.36 – €2.71); occasions of workers toiling for as low as half the legal minimum wage; regular work over 60 hours/week; at times as many as 66 hours/week; as many as 14 hours/day for 6-7 times/month; forced overtime; cases of child labor (below 18 years of age); labor aged as low as 14 years; some workers were younger than 15 years old when they started at the factory; safety issues; electrical and wire shocks.
The Myanmar Dilemma (factory 8)
Labor concerns at garment factory (300 workers): non-living wages; daily base wage 3,600 kyat (€2.71); regular work 60 -68 hours/week; unpaid overtime if production target isn’t met; child labor (16-18 years of age); workers do not receive any health and safety training; protective gear provided only when buyers visit the factory; high temperatures; most workers don’t have a social security card; workers afraid of dismissal if they join a trade union.
Meet Dorsen, 8, who mines cobalt to make your smartphone work
Investigation has found wretched working conditions in unregulated artisanal mines where cobalt is extracted for smartphones: abundant child labor; as young as four years old working; 12-hour daily shifts; workers earning as little as 8p a day; desperately dangerous conditions; exposure to cobalt and dust fumes; mine tunnels are dug by hand by miners who have no protective equipment; recent death reported due to mine collapse.
The Chaos in Global Supply Chain Exacerbates Terrible Working Conditions in China (death)
Worker died of heart attack which came from excessive overtime, fellow worker claims; workers had to work over a month without even a day off; they may be required to work overtime all night.
Branded Childhood (factory 1)
Labor violations at garment factory (5,500 workers): non-living wages; monthly base wages between BDT 5,300 – BDT 14,084 (€ 61.90 – € 164.50); and work regularly over 60 hour/week; occasions of 78 hour workweeks (5 hours of daily overtime) during urgent shipments.