About 800 workers manufacturing various commodities toil for at least 12 hours/day, 7 days/week. Very often shifts exceed 14 hours/day going even all night and follow the work schedule on the following day. Average pay is very low (US$131-$160 per month) at times lower to local minimum wage.
Incident Tag: Forced Overtime
Based on article 8(3)(a) of the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ―no one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labor‖.
According to article 2(1) of the Forced Labor Convention of 1930, ―the term forced or compulsory labor shall mean all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.‖
Additionally, based on Article 13(1) ―The normal working hours of any person from whom forced or compulsory labor is exacted shall be the same as those prevailing in the case of voluntary labor, and the hours worked in excess of the normal working hours shall be remunerated at the rates prevailing in the case of overtime for voluntary labor.‖
Follow Up on Foxconn
Labor violations in factory manufacturing disks and electronics; low wages 750 (RMB); overtime is necessary to make ends meet; ten hours daily shifts for college interns; 11-12 hour shifts for regular workers; regular workers have one rest day every two weeks; when in need, production allows only one day off/month.
Adidas, Real Winner of the 2008 Olympics (3)
Terrible working conditions in factory (~3,000 workers) producing balls and sportswear; during peak season (October to February) workers don’t even have one day off a month; very low wages; factory withholds a month’s wage; workers experience ‘unimaginable pain’ on their hands from chemicals used; gloves provided only when factory is audited; factory trains workers to deceive clients.
Adidas, Real Winner of the 2008 Olympics (2)
Poor conditions in factory (~3,500 workers) producing sport accessories: low wages (local minimum wage 770 RMB/Month); frequently occurring accidents; 11 hours/day shifts (13,5 hours in factory), 6 days/week; compulsory overtime; hat production workers may stay at factory 16 hours.
Domination of World’s Leading Retailer: Wal-Mart
Long hours, verbal and physical abuse at shoe factory; 8 hour shifts plus 4,5 hours forced overtime; overall stay (work & breaks) for workers at factory 15,5 hours.
Puma’s Failure in CSR: Supplier’s Critical Conditions
Wages as low as 64 cents an hour, forced overtime, 12-hour shifts, 6 days/week, some times even overnight on Saturdays for factory workers making sports shoes.
Puma Supplier’s Unchanged Dreadful Conditions
Low wages, workhours between 10 to 12 hours/day, 62.5 hour workweeks during peak season among other violations. Workers expressed that they are “treated as pigs”.
Major labor violations in a Quanta Computer factory
Investigation reveals 15 sets of labor violations at electronics factory; more than $1.8 million in monthly unpaid overtime; 12-hour daily shifts, 6-7 days/week; mandatory overtime; hours more than two times in excess of statutory limits.
KFC and McDonald’s in Beijing Violated Rights of Part-time Workers (McDonald’s)
McDonald’s involved in labor violations in Beijing, such as prolonging working hours arbitrarily, paying wages in arrears, and not paying wages for probationary periods.
KFC and McDonald’s in Beijing Violated Rights of Part-time Workers (KFC)
KFC involved in labor violations in Beijing, such as prolonging working hours arbitrarily, paying wages in arrears, and not paying wages for probationary periods.