An Environment without Human Rights?

• Published on 14/10/2009
• Business Network

“I think it’s fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tools we’ve ever created. They’re tools of communication, they’re tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.” - Bill Gates.

To most it is inconceivable how a computer can conjure up images of oppression and subjugation in some parts of the world. One such place is the Meitai Plastics & Electronics factory in Guangdong, China. As recently as February 2009, the National Labour Committee reported that companies such as Hewlett Packard, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft and IBM used third parties that produce computer equipment under appalling working conditions that infringe basic worker rights.

Working conditions are simply abysmal – a prison would be considered a better place. Under Chinese law, a regular work week is 40 hours (8hrs x 5days), with all overtime voluntary and capped at 36 hours a month. The average work week at this factory is 78 hours, with mandatory overtime of 38 hours surpassing the month’s quota in a week. A worker who dares take a Sunday off will lose 2 ½ days pay. Workers’ movement is severely restricted – they are not permitted to leave the factory compound Monday to Friday.

There is complete disregard for occupational health and safety practises. Workers are denied breaks despite their hands becoming sore and bruised from the fast assembly line. Workers are denied air conditioning despite the extreme temperatures due to the heat created by multitudes of machinery in a confined space. No protective clothing is provided to safeguard against contact with potentially toxic liquids when spray painting equipment.

Discrimination is commonplace. Beginning with the application process workers are required to undergo a blood test for hepatitis B, despite prohibition by Chinese law to discrimination against those with hepatitis B. Lack of empowerment is the norm; discussing factory indcidents leads to dismissal.

These practices are not only a violation of human rights, but contravene basic Chinese labour law. Similar conditions are reported elsewhere in China’s electronics sector such as in production of MP3’s and game consoles.

The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act s367, not yet made law, but to be reintroduced to US Congress would ban the importation or sale of products made in factories under these ‘sweatshop conditions’. Corporations would be required to respect labour rights laws in the countries in which they produce. This would not enforce US or equivalent standards. Nor would it enforce producer responsibility for environmentally sound disposal of e-waste at the end of a products life. Although forbidden by China as a signatory to the Basel Convention, Greenpeace has reported e-waste at facilities smelting in the open air, producing highly dangerous fumes and toxic waste leaking into local water supplies.

A simple solution may be to increase the price of a keyboard from $29.95 to $30.60/$31.60/$32.60. A negligible cost to consumers to fund legal wages, working conditions, OH&S, and e-waste abatement. Even doubling a Chinese worker’s wage from $0.64 per hour, that does not cover subsistence living, is 90% cheaper than an equivalent USA workers hourly rate.

As the Chinese proverb says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and without this single step the goal of empowerment of workers to achieve basic human rights will never be achieved.

Authors Fiona Bachmann and Satya Tammareddy are Amnesty Business Group NSW members. Originally published Ethical Investor Magazine July 2009,

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