Let’s discuss forced labor practices in China and how such practices impact the technology sector <\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.rappler.com\/technology\/features\/253530-forced-labor-aspi-report-technology-feature?fbclid=IwAR2_EP72y-AeXmptd-SvZtG5wutBL6h7sXtrF1hMy_g4jnNmneEiE8ZFUCM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this week, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released a report \u2013 \u201cUyghurs for sale\u201d<\/a> \u2013 which described the process by which China\u2019s government was said to have set up the mass transfer of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities from Xinjiang to factories across China in a forced labor scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than anything else, I urge everyone to read and download<\/a> the ASPI report, because the notes and citations greatly expand on actual write-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can only spare a few minutes though, I\u2019d like to discuss what the ASPI found in the report as it relates to technology, because it\u2019s a reminder that technological and scientific advancements do not exist in a bubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the problem?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ASPI report discussed how Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities appear to have been placed in forced labor situations<\/a> to help in the supply chains of major players in the technology, clothing, and automobile sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ASPI said it found \u201c27 factories in 9 Chinese provinces that are using Uyghur labor transferred from Xinjiang since 2017. Those factories claim to be part of the supply chain of 83 well-known global brands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the 83 brands listed in the report as being connected to those factories using forced labor, the following are from the tech sector:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there’s no easy way of knowing if your iPhone was made with the help of forced labor, the idea of it as a possibility should make your stomach churn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nature of forced labor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some indicators of forced labor as outlined by the International Labor Organization<\/a> that fit the situation in China:<\/p>\n\n\n\n ASPI described these further in the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Uyghur workers, referred to as \u201csurplus labor\u201d or poverty-stricken labor,\u201d are transported in segregated trains to work and then back to their homes after their contracts are completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among other issues, the Uyghur workers are paid less, tracked digitally or given minders, and are not allowed to practice their religion. They also have to take \u201cpatriotic education\u201d as part of their jobs, which adds on to their working hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report had a number of case studies as well, including one in which Apple CEO Tim Cook visited one of its Chinese iPhone contractors, O-Film Technology Co. Ltd., which is implicated as using forced labor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Questions needing answers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n China exports plunge on coronavirus epidemicChina’s exports from January to February 2020 fall 17.2% from a year ago, with the novel coronavirus hitting supply chains<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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