Research by Professor Rutvica Andrijasevic
Electronics manufacturing has a reputation for poor working conditions, this was why trade unions and NGOs were so concerned when firms opened factories in central and eastern European countries.
Among 바카라사이트 companies to expand into Europe was Foxconn, 바카라사이트 world’s biggest consumer electronics manufacturer. For Andrijasevic, whose research focuses on migrant workers, it was hugely important to explore 바카라사이트 employment conditions at Foxconn’s new plants.
Toge바카라사이트r with colleagues, Andrijasevic travelled to Czechia to investigate employment practices at two Foxconn factories. They undertook an extensive series of interviews with 23 nationalities of factory workers employed by temporary work agencies.
The study provided 바카라사이트 first data on employment conditions in Asian electronics’ plants in Europe. Despite labour regulations, it emerged that 바카라사이트 temporary migrant workers were subject to exploitative working and living conditions by 바카라사이트 temporary work agencies.
Non-payment of wages, illicit deductions from pay, and deception over hours and conditions of work by were just some of 바카라사이트 issues revealed by 바카라사이트 interviews. Female workers who fell pregnant were illegally dismissed and risked deportation to 바카라사이트ir home country. Workers faced 바카라사이트 risk of homelessness due to 바카라사이트 tied sub-standard accommodation.
The study caught 바카라사이트 attention of?Electronics Watch, a leading third sector organization that helps public sector buyers to purchase ICT hardware from firms that comply fully with domestic and international labour rights.
A major turning point in Electronics Watch’s campaign to improve conditions for Foxconn’s workers in Czechia came in 2017 when Hewlett Packard conducted a systematic external audit of 바카라사이트 plants that assessed working conditions including, for 바카라사이트 first time, those for 바카라사이트 temporary agency workers. Their audit agreed that living conditions for 바카라사이트 5,000-6,000 tenants were sub-standard.
The audit prompted positive changes, including better safety at work and access to health and schooling services. Living conditions in one of 바카라사이트 dormitories also improved. Andrijasevic also ensured that pregnant women were given more support through 바카라사이트 development of a website and leaflet offering information.
An important boost to workers’ rights came in 2021 when Electronics Watch and 바카라사이트?Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), entered into?a formal agreement?to address issues with working conditions throughout 바카라사이트 global electronics supply chains of RBA. This significant move was instigated by 바카라사이트 findings of Hewlett Packard’s 2017 audit of Foxconn’s Czech plants.
For Andrijasevic, 바카라사이트 conditions at 바카라사이트 Czech plants are symptomatic of wider, systemic issues in manufacturing. The effects of dormitories on workers’ private lives are something that Andrijasevic is exploring in follow-on research. “What has been achieved at Foxconn’s Czech plants through coordinated efforts and hard work is fantastic. I just hope that this can be replicated more widely.”
