27-11-2009 GoodElectronics: Labour rights issues not adressed at supplier of Apple, Samsung and Lenovo

Excerpt from the GoodElectronics website: 

Despite repeated calls from labour groups, reported labour issues at Wintek’s factories have not yet been adequately addressed. Wintek’s customers score deplorably low on transparency and consolidated action towards improvement.

Since December 2008, Chinese and Taiwanese trade unions and labour groups are protesting unlawful dismissals and other ongoing labour issues at Wintek’ factories in Taiwan and China.

Wintek is a Taiwanese manufacturer of flat LCD panel displays (TFT and touch panels). According to information received from workers, Wintek´s customers include Apple, Motorola, Nokia, HTC, HuaWei, Samsung, and Lenovo. Recent updates indicate that the reported issues have not yet been adequately addressed, despite pressure from national and international groups, including GoodElectronics. The concerned labour rights organisations include the Chinese NGO SACOM, the National Federation of Independent Trade Unions (NAFITU), and the Taiwan Labor Information & Education Association (TLIEA), as well as a number of others.

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The reported labour issues concern both the Wintek facilities in Taiwan, and Wintek´s subsidiary in China, Dongguan Masstop. The complaints range from unlawful dismissals, forced unpaid leave, strike busting, low wages, forced overtime, insufficient overtime compensation, and the refusal to respect public holidays, to inferior food quality and lack of canteen hygiene. In general, Wintek has been displaying a lack of respect for the concerns and interests of its workers. In Taiwan, workers are fearful of organising themselves, even talking of unionisation would put their jobs in jeopardy.

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is another buyer that stands out among the different brand name companies sourcing from Wintek, since Wintek is the indicated supplier of LCD touch panels for Apple’s new generation iPhones and other products. As a consequence, Apple has been specifically targeted by the labour groups in their call for ensuring labour rights. Despite this pressure, Apple has not done much. In July 2009, in response to the call by the concerned labour groups, Apple sent a rather meaningless message, reading as follows: ‘ Thank you for your note concerning Wintek. While Apple doesn't disclose our suppliers, we take any concerns or issues raised in our supply chain very seriously. Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible.’ Since then, no word from Apple!

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has responded to the SACOM and GoodElectronics’ calls with the rather inappropriate counter-question whether Samsung is sourcing from Wintek.

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has categorically indicated not to be buying from Wintek.