Understanding the Sourcing and Manufacturing of Technology

Abstract

This chapter explores the human rights violations that arise out of the process of sourcing and manufacturing of technology. Human right exploitations begin at the very source where mining for natural resources workers face human rights abuse. Cobalt is a mineral found in lithium-ion batteries that power the majority of electric cars and cell phones. Some of the largest tech companies in the world are using cobalt that is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by children and adults in horrific conditions. These artisanal mines employ Congolese cobalt miners who operate in hazardous, congested underground tunnels with hazardous materials without even the most basic safety measures or protective gear. Increasing electrical consumption from data centres, carbon-intensive mining and manufacturing processes, and product obsolescence generates tonnes of e-waste and result in biodiversity loss. Furthermore, big tech companies set up factories in Southeast Asian countries. These factories are oftentimes sweatshops, where workers are treated poorly with one day off every two weeks, and employees have to put in 11 to 12 hours a day. They have two 10-minute breaks each day to drink water or use the lavatory in addition to a half-hour for lunch. However, if the employee doesn't hit a daily quota, they have to work overtime for free. Overall, it's said that wages are so low that employees must put in extra time to make even close to a livable income. The supply chain of tech companies should be subject to strict transparency requirements and other human rights procedures. They have the power to impose sanctions on enterprises that don't comply with the rules and to establish laws that are actually effective in levelling the playing field between employers and employees.