Incident Tag: Occupational Hazard

Lack of necessary safety equipment

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 10)

Labor violations at garment factory (1,000 workers): non-living wages; daily base wage 2,000-3,600 kyat (€1.51 – €2.71); occasions of workers toiling for less than legal minimum wage; cases of child labor (below 18 years of age); some workers were younger than 15 years old when they started at the factory; workers have not received health and safety training; inadequate protective masks; workers breathing in fabric complain over respiratory problems, coughs and sore throats; electrical and wire shocks; boiler accidents resulting to injury; about half the workforce does not receive social security.

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.

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.