Case filed against Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell and Tesla
Cobalt is an important ingredient in the manufacture of various electronic devices. The People's Republic of the Congo, which provides nearly half of global cobalt demand. However, child labor is exploited in the mineral collection in this Central African country. Multinational large technology makers have been collecting minerals at a relatively low cost from the Congo for their own benefit, knowing that child labor is involved in cobalt harvesting. An international advocacy group has sued Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell and car maker Tesla over allegations made by the technology maker.
A group of advocates working on rights internationally filed a class action lawsuit against these five organizations in Washington DC last Sunday. The group also operates from Washington DC. The companies are alleged to have engaged in child labor in the inhumane and horribly unhealthy environment of the Cobalt Collection in Congo. Despite this, they have continued to collect cobalt from Congo for the benefit of their business. Despite the warnings by various international human rights organizations, the organizations have not taken effective action to stop child labor in the acquisition of cobalt in Congo.
Earlier, the international human rights organization Amnesty International complained that although cobalt is an important component of manufacturing, large technology makers do not scrutinize whether inhuman child labor is involved in the collection of cobalt used in their products. Almost two years ago, the company alleges child labor against tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Sony.
Following the complaint by Amnesty International, a number of tech companies have taken steps to stop child labor in the acquisition of cobalt in Congo. In this case the tech company Apple is ahead. However, there is still a lot of lag behind cessation of child labor in cobalt lifting in the country.
Cobalt is an important component of lithium ion batteries. About half of global cobalt is produced in Congo. Seven-year-old children are also found to be working in dangerous environments in the country for cobalt harvesting. Mining workers suffer from chronic health complications. At the same time, regular workers were killed in fatal mine accidents while in insecure condition. Mining workers are forced to work under this risk.
One-fifth of cobalt in the Congo is recovered in a dangerous environment through children. However, tech companies have denied the allegations, saying they follow the 'zero tolerance' policy against child labor.
International human rights activists claim that institutions are responsible for ensuring that the cobalt raised by children in the risky environment of Congo is not profitable.
Amnesty International has observed the closure of child labor in the acquisition of cobalt of 29 technology companies after the first report was published in early May. In this case, Apple is leading the elimination of cobalt by children. Apple has named Cobalt suppliers as the first technology company. In this case other electronics brands have made very little progress.Amnesty International previously reported in a joint report with African Research Watch, showing how merchants are buying cobalt from child-filled mines and selling it to Congo Dongfang Mining International (CDM). The cobalt goes from CDM to the parent company Zhejiang Huawei Cobalt Limited. However, after the publication of the report, Zhejiang Huawei has taken several steps to comply with international standards for cobalt collection. However, there is still information discrepancy surrounding the issue.Huawei later said in a statement that it was difficult to completely stop child labor in Congo due to poverty. The company said it has worked on various initiatives. These include setting up a school and raising small business entrepreneurs through lending.Amnesty said in their report that the 26 leading technology companies failed to publish their list of cobalt suppliers.
A group of advocates working on rights internationally filed a class action lawsuit against these five organizations in Washington DC last Sunday. The group also operates from Washington DC. The companies are alleged to have engaged in child labor in the inhumane and horribly unhealthy environment of the Cobalt Collection in Congo. Despite this, they have continued to collect cobalt from Congo for the benefit of their business. Despite the warnings by various international human rights organizations, the organizations have not taken effective action to stop child labor in the acquisition of cobalt in Congo.
| Case filed against Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dell and Tesla |
Earlier, the international human rights organization Amnesty International complained that although cobalt is an important component of manufacturing, large technology makers do not scrutinize whether inhuman child labor is involved in the collection of cobalt used in their products. Almost two years ago, the company alleges child labor against tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Sony.
Following the complaint by Amnesty International, a number of tech companies have taken steps to stop child labor in the acquisition of cobalt in Congo. In this case the tech company Apple is ahead. However, there is still a lot of lag behind cessation of child labor in cobalt lifting in the country.
Cobalt is an important component of lithium ion batteries. About half of global cobalt is produced in Congo. Seven-year-old children are also found to be working in dangerous environments in the country for cobalt harvesting. Mining workers suffer from chronic health complications. At the same time, regular workers were killed in fatal mine accidents while in insecure condition. Mining workers are forced to work under this risk.
One-fifth of cobalt in the Congo is recovered in a dangerous environment through children. However, tech companies have denied the allegations, saying they follow the 'zero tolerance' policy against child labor.
International human rights activists claim that institutions are responsible for ensuring that the cobalt raised by children in the risky environment of Congo is not profitable.
Amnesty International has observed the closure of child labor in the acquisition of cobalt of 29 technology companies after the first report was published in early May. In this case, Apple is leading the elimination of cobalt by children. Apple has named Cobalt suppliers as the first technology company. In this case other electronics brands have made very little progress.Amnesty International previously reported in a joint report with African Research Watch, showing how merchants are buying cobalt from child-filled mines and selling it to Congo Dongfang Mining International (CDM). The cobalt goes from CDM to the parent company Zhejiang Huawei Cobalt Limited. However, after the publication of the report, Zhejiang Huawei has taken several steps to comply with international standards for cobalt collection. However, there is still information discrepancy surrounding the issue.Huawei later said in a statement that it was difficult to completely stop child labor in Congo due to poverty. The company said it has worked on various initiatives. These include setting up a school and raising small business entrepreneurs through lending.Amnesty said in their report that the 26 leading technology companies failed to publish their list of cobalt suppliers.
Comments
Post a Comment