China
Chain of Consequences: How Chinese Workers Pay for Supply Chain De-risking
SOMO and the China Labour Bulletin have released a report titled ‘Chain of Consequences: How Chinese Workers Pay for Supply Chain De-risking.’ The report details how apparel and electronics brands are relocating production away from…
Labor Conditions In China’s Consumer Electronics Sector
This report by China Labor Watch highlights severe labor conditions in China’s consumer electronics sector. The study, based on workers’ testimonies and on-site data, reveals systemic issues like illegal intern usage, hiring discrimination, and workplace…
Dreams and Defiance in Foxconn City
Sociologist Jenny Chan sheds light on China’s emerging working class, comprised of young rural migrants enduring harsh working conditions and low wages. Her book, “Dying for an iPhone,” explores this issue. This interview provides insights…
Strikes surge in China; electronics and garment workers at the forefront
Strikes in China are surging with the electronics and garment workers at the forefront, according to a report by the Chinese Labour Bulletin (CLB). In an article published in Nikkei Asia, CLB reported that the…
Supply Chain Screening Forced Labour at Battery and Electric Bus Manufacturers in China
This study funded by ETI Sweden and its members investigated state-sanctioned forced labor in battery and electric bus manufacturers in China. BYD, CATL, Durapower, LG Chem, Panasonic, Samsung SDI, SK Innovation, and Yutong were included…
Surge of manufacturing protests in China deserves international attention
The electronics industry has long been concentrated in China. Largely for geopolitical reasons, the industry is now reorganising itself spatially, including by moving production to other countries such as Vietnam and India. However, this process…
Apple must investigate Zhengzhou’s Foxconn factory
In a Change.Org petition, civil society organisations demand that Apple Inc. take on its social responsibility to thoroughly investigate the incident at Zhengzhou’s Foxconn factory. Since late October, footage depicting Foxconn workers’ experience of brutal…
Tesla reportedly signs US$5 billion Indonesian nickel deal
Tesla, Inc. has signed US$5 billion worth of deals to buy nickel products from Indonesia. According to Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, Tesla has signed a five-year contract with…
Union win for Turkish workers producing Xiaomi smartphones
When Salcomp Turkey, which produces smartphones for Chinese Xiaomi, the second largest smartphone maker in the world, fired 170 workers for joining a union, the union members took action. At the end of September 2021,…