Sat, Apr 17, 2010 | 20:48 BST
Microsoft investigating harsh working conditions in its China factory
Microsoft has said that it’s to investigate reports that workers in a Chinese factory making its mice, cameras and Xbox 360 controllers are being subjected to a harsh workplace environment.
This week, a report from the National Labor Committee revealed that teenagers working at a factory run by KYE Systems Corp in Dongguan, China, were subjected to “military-style discipline”, forced to work 15-hour shifts, fined for mistakes made to products, and put-up in dirty dorm rooms.
“We have a team of independent auditors en route to the facility to conduct a complete and thorough investigation,” wrote Brian Tobey, head of manufacturing for Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices unit, on the company blog.
“If we find that the factory is not adhering to our standards, we will take appropriate action.”
Tobey said that the company is taking the report seriously, and that it employs an independent auditor to inspect the KYE factory annually, and that Microsoft itself conducts quarterly visits to it.
“Over the past two years, we have required documentation and verification of worker age, and no incidence of child labor has been detected,” said Tobey.
“Worker overtime has been significantly reduced, and worker compensation is in line with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition standards for the Dongguan area.”
The report was conducted over a three-year period by the National Labor Committee, and one teenage worker on the site told researchers that: “We are like prisoners… we do not have a life, only work.”
Sad thing, there.
Via Reuters.
Thanks, Mike.
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Posted in: China, Hot, Jobs, Microsoft
Tags: chinese labor, chinese mmo market, chinese workers, ms mouse, sweatshop, xbox 360 controllers
7 comments
#1
Redh3lix
17/04/10, 10:22 pm
“We have a team of independent auditors en route to the facility to conduct a complete and thorough investigation,”
Reminds me of the drug bust down the road from me the other day…. police approach lights blazing and banging on door (forgot their battering ram apparently).
#2
NoxNoctisUmbra
17/04/10, 10:22 pm
Also Micorsoft is one of the worst companies with recycling. So why are they over pricing everything they sell?
#3
xino
17/04/10, 10:46 pm
why are they investigating when they know about this?
same goes to Sony and Nintendo!
#4
bpcgos
18/04/10, 7:41 am
all about profit, greediness has been eating all of us. poor chinese, their economic growth doesnt have any impact to any individual who lives there
#5
Dralen
19/04/10, 12:24 am
All Microsoft hardware is crap, so this doesn’t surprise me one bit.
#6
xino
19/04/10, 3:33 am
@Dralen…this isn’t about Microsoft’s product.
It’s about people working like a slave to build their product. It’s inhumane.
Microsoft are working them to the bone! Which isn’t right
#7
JonFE
19/04/10, 9:48 am
@xino:
As the article says, that factory is not run by Microsoft. How exactly is Microsoft responsible for “working them to the bone”?
It certainly isn’t right, that’s why they are investigating and will take appropriate action if necessary.