Q&A on workers rights report

A Mexican electronics sector worker, sacked for speaking publicly about poor working conditions [Marcella Haddad]

The background to CEREAL's new report which claims continuing abuse of electronics workers in Mexico

Why are electronics workers still experiencing the problems highlighted by the Clean up you Computer campaign in 2004?

CAFOD’s campaign aimed to get three leading PC brands to adopt and implement codes of conduct which met International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards in their supply chains.

Dell, IBM and HP responded quickly and quite positively to the campaign. They have been working with their suppliers and other brands to address the problems within their supply chains which CAFOD’s research identified.

However, CEREAL’s report shows that policies aren’t always being put into practice. Many electronics workers have never heard of the industry code.

In addition, on issues like voluntary overtime, short term contacts or the right to join a union and negotiate with managers, we feel the companies’ codes don’t go far enough.

To achieve genuine, lasting improvements, electronics workers themselves need to be far more involved in changing conditions.

This is why CAFOD has continued to press for workers to be able to organise and negotiate for themselves.

What positive changes resulted from the campaign?

The electronics industry has recognised that there are problems in its global supply chains and that brands have a responsibility to take action.

CAFOD and CEREAL pushed successfully for meetings with computer companies to highlight the problems faced by the workers in their supply chains.

At the last meeting, executives from 29 leading ICT companies listened as eight female workers described the problems that they experienced on a daily basis.

CAFOD’s Clean up your computer campaign helped spark other campaigns in Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.

In 2006 the Goodelectronics network was set up bringing together environmental and labour rights groups, unions and NGOs from around the world working on the electronics industry.

The network has helped workers in the developing world, for instance successfully campaigning for Thai union members to be re-instated.

With support from CAFOD, CEREAL has expanded its work to help electronics workers right across Mexico, establishing a dialogue with the companies concerned to resolve cases and using evidence from worker interviews to call for fundamental changes to defend labour rights.

Around 100 cases have been settled more quickly as a result.

The priority now is effective preventative actions from the electronic companies and the employment agencies which they use so that new cases do not occur.

What is CAFOD doing now?

CAFOD is one of the founding organisations within the Goodelectronics network and of course continues to work closely with our long-term partner CEREAL to support the research and dialogue in Mexico. More about the global electronics campaign >>

What will cause real change in the industry?

Allowing genuine trade unions to be established is an important part of ensuring workers’ rights are protected.

Recognising independent trade unions can mean that workers are able to raise issues and negotiate improvements in wages or working conditions themselves.

Should we boycott?

A boycott is not particularly helpful and could put workers’ jobs at risk.

However consumers can still use their purchasing power. When buying a computer or a mobile phone, write to the producer to ask how they ensure that workers in their supply chains are treated justly.

Ask if the code of conduct they use includes ILO core labour standards on freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. Let brands know that consumers care about how their products have been made.

What about IBM?

IBM has sold a significant amount of its manufacturing business to Chinese company Lenovo.

IBM is still part of the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct group and takes part in the meetings with CEREAL and CAFOD.

The Clean Up Your Computer campaign pushed for changes in both Mexico and China – what is happening in China?

The Goodelectronics network is monitoring working conditions in mainland China. One example of this is the work of SACOM - Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour

More about this campaign >>

What’s the point of voluntary standards?

Voluntary standards provide a starting point for change and give workers a way of holding them publicly to account.

Codes of conduct can be useful, but they are no substitute for effective regulation which protects workers’ rights.

To improve working conditions, governments need to introduce just labour laws which are enforced effectively, companies need to respect core labour rights and ensure that all their suppliers do the same and workers need to have a genuine voice.

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