CAFOD REPORT ON TREATMENT OF WORKERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

That this House commends CAFOD in sponsoring a report by CEREAL and exposing the shameful treatment of electronic workers along the supply chains in Mexico for some of the best-known consumer electronics, including telephone company Nokia and the suppliers making Xbox video game stations and products for Blackberry; notes with disapproval that Nokia terminated the employment of 2,000 workers, including 20 pregnant women, during the economic crisis; further notes their recruitment agency asked workers to sign voluntary resignation forms, removing their rights to severance pay and threatening those who refused with being blacklisted; further notes with disapproval that Microsoft Xbox manufacturers Flextronics made workers share two toilet passes between 70 employees leaving some for up to eight hours without access to toilets; further notes that these companies are making millions of pounds on products and have a responsibility and obligation not to turn a blind eye to such degrading practices in the supply chain, as highlighted in this research; believes that these companies should ensure that all workers in the supply chain are treated fairly, with dignity and have the opportunity to join genuine unions; and calls on these companies to look at the root causes of these problems and to urgently do all possible to improve the working conditions of these workers.