KARAT Coalition

Important improvements at mobile phone charger manufacturer in Shenzhen

One of every two mobile phones is manufactured in China. In 2008, makeITfair published a report about poor working conditions at factories that mobile phone companies source from. One year later, two of the factories (supplying chargers to Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and LG) have been re-examined. Since makeITfair’s first report was released, important improvements have been experienced by workers, improvements such as the provision of adequate protection gear and health and safety training. However, important issues remain, including excessive working hours and medical tests before hiring.

“Electronics production includes several hazardous tasks and substances. Appropriate protection and health and safety training are therefore vital to protect workers’ health. The owners of these two factories have acknowledged this and realised that these kinds of investments are good for business. Investments made to improve conditions at the sites are now generating a return”, says Sara Nordbrand at SwedWatch, one of the organisations behind makeITfair.

In 2007, young women worked without face masks or gloves at these factories, inhaling hazardous fumes at poorly ventilated workstations. They reported cut and burned hands and fingers, and their living conditions were unacceptable and unsafe. Since then, a new owner has taken over the factories and invested USD 2.5 million in improving conditions at these sites.

However, workers interviewed by makeITfair in 2009 state that some issues still remain to be addressed. One complaint regards excessive working hours and related health problems. As last time, workers earn a low minimum wage for fulltime work, which make them dependent on their overtime earnings. As expressed in the 2008 report, excessive overtime hours are often the result of a combination of low wage levels and orders placed late or changed at the last minute by buyers. MakeITfair therefore recommends that the mobile phone companies adjust their demands and practices.

“If they demand fewer overtime hours without demanding higher basic wages, they risk creating situations where workers, in the end, face greater problems in supporting themselves and their families. Living wages, instead of minimum wages, should therefore be the goal,” says Esther de Haan at SOMO, the lead organisation behind makeITfair.

This study also indicates that workers are discriminated against during the recruitment process based on age, gender and place of birth. Moreover legal , but questionable, liver function tests are conducted before hiring. Certain medical tests before hiring have long been mandatory in China but their application risks discriminating against the most vulnerable workers in China – migrant workers who suffer from health problems. They are far away from home with an insufficient social safety net which exacerbates their precarious situation. MakeITfair recommends that mobile phone companies work with their suppliers in cooperation with local Chinese organisations involved in this issue.

Read the full report

2009-12-17

"On the move. The electronics industry in Central and Eastern Europe"

New article about electronics industry in CEE Region prepared by makeITfair campaign on a basis of case studies form Poland, Czech, Hungary and Romania is now available HERE

2009-12-14

makeITfair new report "Fair phones- It's your call"

makeITfair releases a new report today that shows that the efforts of European mobile network operators, such as Vodafone and T-Mobile, to improve the social and environmental conditions in the mobile phone supply chain still leaves a lot to desire. The makeITfair report “Fair Phones: it’s your call” demonstrates that most mobile network operators may take some degree of responsibility for their supply chain on paper, but remain passive in indeed pursuing improvements in their supply chain. Furthermore, by offering mobile phones for "free", mobile phone operators push more and more mobile phones on the market. As collection rates of old mobile phones for recycling remain low, this marketing practice results in more and more e-waste.

It is common practice for mobile network operators to offer customers a ‘free’ new mobile phone when they sign up for a new subscription, or renew their subscription. “Evidently, this type of marketing has an enormous impact on the amount of mobile phones that are circulating on the market, as well as on the mobile phone production processes, and the mounting volumes of e-waste”, says SOMO researcher Mariëtte van Huijstee. Although most mobile network operators have mobile phone ‘hand in’ programmes in place, collection and recycling figures of mobile phones are still dramatically low. This situation, combined with the fact that consumers are seduced into subscription renewal by offering the newest mobile phone model for “free”, sustains the continued demand of metal-mining for mobile phone manufacturing, and creates a continuous stream of e-waste.

‘Fair phones’ are non-existent. This may be partly explained by the fact that consumer interest in ‘green’ or ‘fair’ attributes of mobile phones is perceived as low by most operators. However, earlier market research by makeITfair revealed that a majority of young European consumers is concerned about the social and environmental conditions under which their mobiles are produced, and are willing to pay 10% more for fair electronics.

In terms of monitoring improvements in the mobile phone supply chain as well as making sure that conditions will indeed improve, there is still a world to win. Of the ten mobile network operators that were studied, seven have some sort of supply chain policy in place that sets social and environmental requirements for their suppliers. These are TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Vodafone, KPN (including E-Plus), Tele2, Telenor and Teléfonica (known as ‘O2’ in Germany). Several of these policies are meager. Tre doesn’t have such a policy, DNA is currently developing one and for Elisa no such policy is available in the public domain. Only five operators in the selection -Telenor, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Telefónica and TeliaSonera- have systems in place to monitor the compliance with their policies by suppliers. Nevertheless, the number of suppliers that are monitored by actually visiting their plants and offices represent only a very small share of the total supplier base.

Collectively, the ten mobile network operators included in the makeITfair report had nearly 1 billion subscribers in 2008 (according to International Telecomunication Union ), implying they represent almost one quarter of all global subscriptions for mobile communication networks. Earlier makeITfair research has signalled that severe environmental and social problems persist in the mobile phone supply chain, stressing the need for increased responsibility and accountability in the chain.

The report is available HERE

2009-09-30

New makeITfair report: Labour conditions in the computer industry in the Philippines still miserable, despite companies promises

Amsterdam, 6 July 2009 –Two years ago reports revealed that suppliers of computer components in the Philippines violated labour laws and codes of conduct of computer brands. Several companies promised improvements but a new report from makeITfair shows that no real change has occurred.

“Workers producing computer parts are still working long hours for low wages and have no possibility to organize themselves to demand improved conditions.”, says Esther de Haan from the Center for Research on Multionational Corporations (SOMO), coordinator of makeITfair.

Researchers from SOMO and the Philippine Workers’ Assistance Center (WAC) interviewed workers and managers of electronic factories in the Philippines in 2006 and 2008. The new report Configuring Labour Rights reveals thatlabour conditions have hardly improved despite the fact that some suppliers have upgraded policy and efforts and several computer companies have taken efforts to audit the labour conditions in the Philippines. The most important reasons why these measures fail according to SOMO:

Computer brands are not addressing the root causes of labour violations at their suppliers, such as the low wages and workers right to organize; not in their codes nor in their policy;
Computer brands are non-transparent about their efforts of auditing their suppliers as well as on what changes they have requested. Most of the brands’ initiatives are superficial, only touching on first tier suppliers and based on checklist monitoring and are auditing their suppliers without working with NGOs and trade unions;
Computer companies are negotiating down the prices of their suppliers, but this contrasts with their demanding good labour conditions.

The report further concluded that suppliers often did not understand what brand companies expected from them and brand companies did not reward suppliers for the implementation of improved labour conditions. As one of the managers of a supplier states: “We cannot reject the customers demands otherwise we are out of business”, showing that the constant pressure on prices and delivery times makes it hard for the suppliers in the Philippines to improve labour conditions.

Cecille Tuico of WAC asks explicitly that “the electronic brands have to make sure that their Codes of Conduct can and will be implemented by their suppliers down the supply chain. All the workers deserve fair and decent wages, to be able exercise their rights, and a safe working environment.”

MakeITfair calls on computer companies to train their suppliers in implementing codes of conduct, improve their auditing and monitoring system, enable suppliers to improve conditions by negotiating fair prices and work with local NGOs and trade unions. MakeITfair urges companies and their suppliers to recognize workers’ right to form or join trade unions and take steps to make this possible.

For more information, please contact the authors of the report:
Esther de Haan, researcher at SOMO, +31 (0)206391291, +31 (0)642243153

Irene Schipper, SOMO, + 31 (0) 20 6391291 and = 31 (0) 630390001

makeITfair is a three-year project that aims to raise awareness about labour and human rights abuses in the production chain of consumer electronics goods, including mobile phones, MP3 players, game consoles and laptops. It is funded by the EU and participating organisations are: SOMO, Germanwatch, Verbraucher Initiative, FinnWatch/ Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, Karat, SwedWatch, Church of Sweden, Fair Trade Center, SACOM (China), ACIDH (Congo) and Cividep (India).

Reports and consumer guides can be downloaded at www.makeITfair.org. Information for consumers who want to take action is available at http://makeitfair.org/take-action .

2009-07-06

Call for fair mobile phones

On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on May 17, thousands of signatories will put pressure on mobile phone companies across Europe to pay greater attention to fair labour standards. "This campaign, organised by makeITfair, collected more than 8,000 signatures calling for fair pay and better labour rights in supplier countries such as China.

It shows that consumers are beginning to be more aware about the source of their mobile phones and that there is a demand for fair phones,” says Esther de Haan from makeITfair coordinator SOMO. More than half of all mobile phones in use worldwide are produced in China. Migrant workers work up to 12 hours a day, earning only around 40 Euro cents an hour, which is not enough to cover their basic living expenses.

2009-05-15

makeITfair & GoodElectronics
Round Table for the electronics industry and civil society organisations
"Improving Labour Standards in the Global Electronics Industry -
Defining Strategies that Work"
May 7-8, 2009, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

makeITfair and GoodElectronics have the pleasure to inform you of the Round Table “Improving Labour Standards in the Global Electronics Industry - Defining Strategies that Work” that will take place from 7-8 May, 2009, in Amsterdam.

The objective of the organisers with this round table is to provide information and insight in the current labour issues in the global electronics industry, as well as to find common ground between the industry and civil society organisations for effective strategies that bring about lasting improvements of labour conditions in this sector.

The round table will offer an excellent opportunity for linking, learning and networking among a diverse group of participants in a low-pressure, constructive atmosphere that will facilitate creative out-of-the-box discussions.

Among the participants we expect representatives of the Electronic Industry Corporate Citizenship (EICC), the Global e-sustainability Initiative(GeSI), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the international Metalworkers’ Federation, the European Metalworkers’ Federation, trade unions and labour rights NGOs from production countries as well as the North, as well as individual companies, including suppliers.

The programme consists of key notes speeches, a panel debate, group discussions and plenary sessions. Working language is English, but if need be translation to/from English can be provided for. Participation is free of charge.

Participation is open for interested companies, including suppliers, civil society organisations and (EU) policy makers. Places are limited, so please register in time.

For a detailed programme, a registration form, or additional information, please contact Pauline Overeem at GoodElectronics: p.overeem@goodelectronics.org

We are looking forward to see you!

FUNDING: This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of SOMO and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

2009-04-27

Youth from makeITfair push for change

The objectives of the MakeITfair Youth Round Table held from 13 to15 March in Amsterdam were not only to inform the participants about the misconduct within the electronic products cycle but also to provide them with tools enabling to act as youth organizations and as EU-citizens.

You can see a short movie from this meeting at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKuxUYzY-g0

2009-03-25

Playing with Labour Rights

makeITfair's new report Playing with Labour Rights tells that hiring workers through labour agencies is increasingly common in the electronics industry. In China, the number of contract workers increased by seven million to 27 million in 2008. The studied factories made no exception. "The sales figures of both game consoles and portable music players have increased rapidly in recent years. Still, particularly workers hired through agencies who are making these products have to bear the high human costs. These workers face wage deductions by the agencies - leading to even less earnings - and are often worse informed than regular workers", says Charles Ho, researcher at Hong Kong based organisation SACOM.

2009-03-12

Invitation for Capacity Building workshop, Budapest, 17.02.2009

MakeItfair Campaign invites for capacity building training, taking place on 17^th of February in Budapest, Hungary.

MakeItFair is a European campaign, raising awareness about developmental issues in the production of consumer electronics, such as mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops. We want to let people across Europe know about the labour abuses and environmental problems that are going on right now around the world – just to satisfy our demand for all the latest electronic gadgets. We want to encourage people to get active to improve the situation. We are trying to hold big brand electronics companies to account – asking them to take responsibility for the labour abuses and environmental damage at the bottom of their supply chain.

Aims of the workshop

- inform interested NGOs on current state of affairs; impact of growing demand for electronic goods on environmental issues, social & economic development in Southern countries and so called countries in transition.

- inform about the campaign: our current and future activities & possibilities to cooperate.

- the special attention will be given to educational makeItfair materials and possibilities of further use for interested organisations, groups & individuals.

The workshop will be held in ELIZABETH hall of the Research Centre for Social Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Országház u. 30, Budapest 1014.

Priority will be given to participants being able to join the whole workshop day (9 – 18). The workshop will be lead by experienced “makeITfair” researchers & campaigners and Hungarian guest speakers.

The workshop is free of charge, accommodation & travel costs will be covered by organisers.

If you are interested in participation, please fulfil attached document and send it to Judit Acsady at acsady@socio.mta.hu or Monika Matus at monika.matus@karat.org.pl

Working languages during the workshop are English & Hungarian (the translation will be provided).

The workshop is organised with financial assistance of European Union

For the first time this year, KARAT as a partner of the project MakeITfair & ProcureITfair, will be present during international round table organised by GoodElectronics - International Network on Human Rights and Sustainability in Electronic. This time the meeting will be held in Indonesia, country where a lot of next generaltion electronics is produced. Also big amounts of tin used for production of electronics is extracted there. Every year the meeting is organised in on of the southern countires in order to facilitate their better participation. For further informations contact Monika: monika.matus@karat.org.pl

2008-10-22

Invitation for Capacity Building workshop, Prague, 14.10.2008

MakeITfair Campaign invites for capacity building training, taking place on 14^th October in Prague, Czech Republic.

MakeITfair is a European campaign, raising awareness about developmental issues in the production of consumer electronics, such as mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops. We want to let people across Europe know about the labour abuses and environmental problems that are going on right now around the world – just to satisfy our demand for all the latest electronic gadgets. We want to encourage people to get active to improve the situation. We are trying to hold big brand electronics companies to account – asking them to take responsibility for the labour abuses and environmental damage at the bottom of their supply chain.

Aims of the workshop

- inform about the campaign: our current and future activities & possibilities to cooperate.

- the special attention will be given to educational makeItfair materials and possibilities of further use for interested organisations, groups & individuals.

The workshop will be held in Hotel Olšanka, s.r.o.Táboritská 23, 130 00 Praha 3. Priority will be given to participants being able to join the whole workshop day (9 – 18). The workshop will be lead by experienced “MakeITfair” researchers & campaigners.

The workshop is free of charge, accommodation & travel costs will be covered by organisers.

If you are interested in participation, please fulfil attached document and send it to Monika Matus at monika.matus@karat.org.pl

Working languages during the workshop are English & Czech (the translation will be provided).

The workshop is organised with financial assistance of European Union

2008-10-05

MakeITfair: KARAT's presence at the Good Electronics Roundtable

For the first time this year, KARAT as a partner of the project MakeITfair & ProcureITfair, will be present during international round table organised by GoodElectronics - International Network on Human Rights and Sustainability in Electronic. This time the meeting will be held in Indonesia, country where a lot of next generaltion electronics is produced. Also big amounts of tin used for production of electronics is extracted there. Every year the meeting is organised in on of the southern countires in order to facilitate their better participation. For further informations contact monika.matus@karat.org.pl

2008-10

MakeITfair : Workers silenced when we talk

The mobile phone industry is often presented as a clean, unproblematic industry, but MakeITfair’s new report ‘Silenced to Deliver’ shows that this is not the case. Young electronics workers handle chemicals without protective gear. They work inhumane overtime hours to cover basic needs and are punished if they make mistakes. In the export processing zones in Asia where the factories are located, protests are often brutally suppressed.

The full version of the report is available here

2008-10