The families and friends of electronics manufacturing workers at Samsung in Korea have discovered a cancer cluster among young workers exposed to toxic chemicals. The pattern of cancer deaths bears a striking resemblance to the pattern of cancer deaths among IBM “chip” workers in the US and to other electronics cancer clusters around the world.
March [...]

The Asian Transnational Corporation Monitoring Network (ATNC) expresses deep regret over the Korean government’s announcement that it has granted a special presidential pardon for Samsung’s ex-chairman Mr. Lee Kun-hee on December 31, 2009. This special amnesty came out just four months after Mr. Lee was convicted for tax evasion and illegal bond trading, done for [...]

JAKARTA, 11 December 2009 (IRIN) – A lack of regulations is hampering Indonesia’s efforts to manage electronic waste, leaving communities exposed to health hazards from the toxic chemicals, officials and experts say.
Along with other developing countries such as China, Indonesia is a destination for old electronics from developed countries in a trade deemed illegal [...]

The electronics sector has up to 5,000 job vacancies for semi-skilled workers in Ayutthaya province alone, the Federation of Thai Industries said Monday.
Ayutthaya is home to a well-known cluster of electronics manufacturers and global brands, such as US-based Western Digital (WD), Canon, and Minibea. About half of the province’s total 240,000 industrial workers are employed [...]

To sign the petition online, go to: http://campaign.tw-npo.org/campaign/sign.php?id=2009042210484600
If you are holding an iPhone or an HTC in your hand, you might have contributed to the ordeals of nearly 8,000 factory workers in China and Taiwan, to speak of the least.
One of Apple’s major suppliers, WINTEK, is recently facing a fight back from angry workers, among [...]

Several newspapers and websites reported that Nikon (Thailand) is laying off at least 2,600 workers in Thailand. Accoridng to Thainewsland.com, Nikon (Thailand) labour union leader Tongchai Sithidej said company, based in Ayutthaya’s Rojana Industrial Estate, on 20 November 2008 announced the termination of employment for 2,600 sub-contract workers without any advance notice. The workers claimed they were given [...]

After 2 years of effort the Ole Wolff Yantai Workplace Union won a partial victory against its employer, the Ole Wolff Electronics Yantai, a subsidiary of the Ole Wolff Electronics A/S, Denmark. In early November 2008, the company finally agreed to compensate the six unlawfully dismissed workers’ representatives with 1300-1600 yuan, an equivalence of two [...]

– News from GoodElectronics (20 Nov 2008)
 
On 13 November 2008, a meeting took place in the ongoing negotiations between labour union EEALU, representatives of Hoya Glass Disk (Thailand) and officials of the Thai Ministry of Labour in Lamphun province. The meeting ended succesfully with an agreement signed by the labour union and the company.
 
 The broad [...]

Press Release SOMO/makeITfair

 
Electronics industry takes next step towards sustainable metals
Concrete actions for improving conditions at mining sites in DR Congo
 
Amsterdam, 18-11-2008 – This week, the electronics industry shows its commitment to address issues with the mining of their metals, and takes makeITfair’s recommendations one step forward. On November 19th, the electronics industry will organize a [...]

T’PURAM: The labour department today recommended to the state government to take legal action against IBS Software for terminating employees, violating labour laws.
The department recommended for action after an inspection conducted by additional labour commissioner found that employees were terminated violating labour laws.
During inspection, the labour commissioner obtained resignations of 27 persons terminated.
The commissioner has [...]