Mobile Phone in China

One of every two mobile phones is manufactured in China. In 2008 makeITfair published

a report about factories supplying the big brand name companies with components for their

mobile phones. This follow-up re-examines two of the factories where workers took to the streets

in 2007 protesting against unacceptable and illegal working conditions. Since then a new owner,

who took over the plants in 2008, has invested and made efforts to set up management systems

and to improve conditions at the sites. Improvements in several areas had been experienced

by workers interviewed for this report in 2009 (living quarter refurbishment, provision of

protective gear, legal overtime payment etc). Management has also set up systems to channel

complaints and grievances in a country where true union rights do not exist. However, important

issues still remain to be addressed. This research indicates, for example, discrimination during

recruitment, as well as illegal and unhealthy working hours. In order to address the latter

problem, makeITfair recommends that mobile phone companies sourcing from these factories

analyse their purchasing practices. As expressed in the earlier publication, excessive overtime

hours are often a result of a combination of low wage levels and orders placed late or changed at

the last minute. In order to address discrimination through health tests on job applicants, it is

recommended that mobile phone companies work with their suppliers in cooperation with local

Chinese organisations involved in this issue.

In September 2008, makeITfair published a report entitled Silenced to Deliver: Mobile phone

manufacturing in China and the Philippines1, in which four Chinese factories in Guangdong

were examined. Problems discovered included health and safety issues, excessive working hours,

low wages and involuntary overtime. Workers were punished with wage deductions if they made

mistakes, even when the mistakes were due to the unacceptable working conditions offered by

the employer. As a follow-up to this report, workers and management at two of these factories, as

well as their customers,