Report reveals severe violations of workers’ rights in Asian (China, Philippines) mobile phone factories.
Incident Tag: Union Repression
Incidence where unionizing and collective bargaining is obstructed/repressed/prohibited. Workers denied the right of association.
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—normes/documents/publication/wcms_318141.pdf (p. 28)
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
‘…the right for workers and employers to establish and join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization. Workers’ and employers’ organizations shall organize freely and not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority.
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
‘This fundamental Convention provides that workers shall enjoy adequate protection against acts of anti-union discrimination, including requirements that a worker not join a union or relinquish trade union membership for employment, or dismissal of a worker because of union membership or participation in union activities.
China Labor Watch – 20/11/2015
“A contracted toy company producing for McDonald’s employed 400 child workers, who were required to work 16 hours per day and paid 1.5 yuan per hour. The youngest worker was only 14 years old.”
Bangladesh Garment Factories Often Evade Monitoring
Excessive work hours at factory (4.500 workers) producing garments; many employees routinely work more than 100 hours/week; regularly work may last until 5 a.m to meet production targets.
1900 workers locked out at Designer Jeans in Bangladesh
1900 workers are deprived of legally unionizing. Two union leaders imprisoned.
Wal-Mart and Disney Toys from Hell
Work hours reaching 15,5 hours not including the two meal breaks, 6 ½ hours of overtime daily, 7 days/week at peak seasons, and Lack of fire protection. “It’s very unsafe. If there was an emergency, people could not get out!”
Gap and Old Navy in Bangladesh: cheating the poorest workers in the world
14- to – 23 hour shifts, 7 days/week, reaching to massive 210 hours of overtime, even for pregnant women; extreme work hours; beatings; humiliation; death threats; starvation wages (20 to 24 cents per hour); workers visibly sick, exhausted and dazed.
Corruption and Greed: Alianza Fashion Sweatshop in Guatemala
For 12 years, Alianza robbed workers of over $6 million in wages and benefits, changed it’s legal name 4 times, and defrauded the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (including the workers’ pension accounts) of over $4.7 million. Alianza sold garments to brands who then profited by 415% and 550% mark-ups.
Exhaustion Has No Limit at Apple Supplier in China
Incidents of over 100 security guards harassing and beatings at factory (15,000 workers). Workers toil for 64 to 72 hours/week; with low wages; workers are numb and exhausted. “We are just machines” – Zhen Ding Tech worker
A Race to the Bottom: Trans-Pacific Partnership and Nike in Vietnam
67 Vietnamese factories, supplying Nike with footwear and clothing, allegedly pay workers 48 to 69 cents/hour. While the “average customs value of the Nike sneakers is just $5.27 per pair”, Nike shoes “sell in the U.S. from $60 to $120 to well past $200”
Two Years of Broken Promises
Two investigations throughout 2013-2014 find labor violations at factory (20,000 workers) including: excessive overtime nearly 100 hours/month, hazardous waste poured into a nearby river, unsafe working environment. Catcher workers have “suffered skin and eye irritation, and are at risk for more serious health problems” making tablet computers, smartphones and laptops.