How tech-giants promote child-labour

Over the past decade, consumer electronics have become a cornerstone to most people across the world and if they are like most Nigerians, they probably own a cell phone, computer and at least one television, but the question no one seems to be asking is ‘Where do all these gadgets come from?’

It would amaze you to know that these electronics products are manufactured in some of these cities, namely Reynoza in Mexico; Jaszerbereny and Polgar in Hungary; Chennai in India; Hanoi in Vietnam; and Pathum Thani in Thailand, but some of the leading electronics makers may have contributed adversely to impoverishing the world children, through child labour.

Some of the beneficiaries of this situation include Samsung, Apple, General Electronics, Nokia, Motorola, Dell, Panasonic and dozens more, who are direct or indirectly contributing to child labour at the countries where they have assembling plants, based on poor wage apart from poor working conditions.

It was also discovered that 36 per cent of all children under 14 were employed in manufacturing during the period under review, while the average work day for each child is 10 hours.

According to a recent research by Jen Rhee, a Master student, an estimated 90 per cent of American adults live in a household with at least one cell phone, 59 per cent of American adults own a desktop computer, 52 per cent own a laptop computer; while 96 per cent of American households have at least one television and more than half of homes have at least three.

Additionally, the report says that China is responsible for one third (1/3) of the global electronics manufacturing, wondering, however, where the other 2/3 come from?

In view of the research, DigitalSENSE News discovered that five manufacturing plants produce bulk of the world’s television sets, computers, cell phones GPS systems, tablets, and cameras that populate homes, invariably for various brands and aforementioned brands precisely.

These electronics products, the research added were produced. Reynoza in Mexico; Jaszerbereny and Polgar, Hungary; Chennai, India; Hanoi, Vietnam; Pathum Thani, Thailand, maintaining that 36 per cent of all children under 14 were employed in manufacturing as at the time of the research, while the average work day for each child is 10 hours.

Remarkably, estimated at the report stated that after explosions at an Apple supplier plant in China in 2010, many of the company’s factories came under scrutiny.

“Of 127 Chinese Apple supplier plants audited in 2010, 80 had not properly stored or handled hazardous chemicals; 41 did not dispose of hazardous waste as required by law; 37 did not monitor and control air emissions and 11 had waste water problems,” part of the report conducted under MastersDegree.net read.

They pointed out that when other gadget suppliers were examined, it became clear that Apple did not fall far from the tree and companies like Samsung, General Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Dell, Panasonic, and some more from these manufacturing capitals have extremely poor wages.

On daily average, the report says wages range between $8.9, about N1,403.08 to $190, about N29,953.50, citing for instance that the United States tops the factory cities with $190 followed by Jaszerbereny and Polgar in Hungary  with $13.3; Hanoi - $3.3, Reynosa - $4.52, Pathum Thani $7.19 and Chennai - $8.9.

“These companies don’t just pay poorly, they’ve also been found to employ children (child labour); face threats of suicide; face employee protests and be negligent in handling waste; as poor working conditions allow you to get your gadgets a little cheaper, but is it worth it?”

 Remmy Nweke

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