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 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.

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (Ri Teng)

Labor issues at (3) factory plants (~20,000 workers) specializing in producing cases for consumer electronic equipment: 11-12 hour daily shifts, 6 days/week on average; work 7 days/week during peak production (as many as 31 days/month); workers may not have a day off for months at a time; work may reach as many as 18 hours/day; verbally abusive management; dangerous working environment; very poor quality safety equipment, factory switches to better only during customer visit or audit; hundreds student workers aged as low as 16 year old; workers have to take overtime in order to make ends meet (base salary 1,280 RMB ≈$203).

 

 

COC: False Advertising of Disney (Hengtai)

Poor conditions in factory (over 2,000 employees) manufacturing plastic toys; use of child laborers (16 years old); 12 hour daily work shifts (14 hours overall factory stay); 6 days/week; inadequate safety precautions on workers exposed to hazardous substances; factory fired ~70 workers protesting over pay and workhours.

A Case Study: Adidas And Yueyuen (Jiujiang)

Investigation report at factory producing balls and other sports equipment reveals: 10-11 daily work shifts; 6 days/week; mandated overtime during peak season (October-June); work at least 84 hours/week in peak season; reported injuries; incidents of guards beating employees.

Wal-Mart Standards Fail, Workers Suffer

Report raises concerns over labor violations in 5 factories supplying Walmart including: low wages, long work shifts (100-140 hours/month), auditors getting tricked by factory management.

Wal-Mart’s Road to Sustainability: Paved with False Promises? (Ηuasheng)

Labor violations in factory (1400-1500 workers) producing packaging products: 11 -11.5 hour shifts in busy seasons, 7 days/week (77 hours/week overall); extremely low wages ($0.51/hour), that is 60% of the minimum wage; inhaling large amounts of paper particles and other debris; elaborate audit cheating system.