Issues > Electronics > People > Labour Exploitation
Labour Exploitation
Labour exploitation occurs at both the extraction and manufacturing stages of production of electronic goods. Child and forced labour is known to occur in the extraction of minerals for electronic goods. Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) refers to mining conducted with low-tech machinery and physical labour. Independent reports have consistently recorded the poor working conditions in supplier companies. In 2012 a report of ten electronics manufacturers in China found the average overtime of employees was between 100-130 hours per month - well in excess of the maximum 36 hours allowed under Chinese law. 11 hour days with very few days off are common.
See 'Who Pays the Price? The Human Cost of Electronics'
See 'The Truth of the Apple iPad Behind Foxconn's Lies'
See RankaBrand's Sustainable Electronics Report 2014