http://somo.nl daily 1 2008-04-10T14:02:40Z http://somo.nl/news-en/european-e-waste-damages-health-and-environment-in-ghana The new report 'What a waste' from makeITfair reveals the health and environmental problems of the uncontrolled flow of e-waste from Europe to Ghana. Each month, around 600 containers of second-hand electronics arrive in Ghana. Most of it is obsolete and ends up being burned at dump-sites. The UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and Spain are the top exporters of used computers to Ghana. As the European legislation on electronic waste (the so-called WEEE directive) is currently being revised, the Environmental Council of the European Union now has the opportunity to stop the human rights and environmental violations that are caused by European waste. No publisher Edith 2011-11-23T13:19:15Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/digital-camera-companies-in-vietnam-risk-wildcat-strikes-due-to-poor-social-dialogue-in-their-factories MakeITfair’s report “Out of focus” on digital camera companies in Vietnam reveals that the major issue faced by workers is the lack of freedom of association and collective bargaining power. Although the Vietnamese labour law only permits one legal trade union, without taking proactive steps, the electronics companies in Vietnam risk wildcat strikes. No publisher Edith 2011-12-01T13:06:23Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/eu-must-stop-dumping-dangerous-e-waste-on-developing-countries Europe must seize the chance to stop its e-waste from triggering human rights abuses and environmental damage globally, said human rights and environmental NGOs in an open letter sent to European Environment Ministers today. No publisher Edith 2011-11-09T12:23:25Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/new-iphone-2013-old-problems While Apple is presenting its new iPhone 4s, Foxconn workers producing Apple products in China continue to face harsh labour conditions. These are the findings of the new study “iSlave Behind the iPhone” by Hong Kong-based labour group SACOM, who investigated conditions at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant. Human rights organisations are disappointed that Apple has apparently still not learned from the critical labour rights problems, including recent suicides and a serious case of poisoning, at its suppliers in China. No publisher Edith 2011-11-17T08:34:05Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/exploitative-jobs-prevalent-in-india2019s-mobile-phone-industry Precarious jobs and insufficient wages are common in the mobile phone industry in India. These are the findings of a new report launched today by the makeITfair campaign. Phony Equality – Labour standards of mobile phone manufacturers in India reveals that most of the workers at four electronics factories owned by Nokia, Flextronics, Foxconn and Salcomp in Chennai’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are either contract workers or ‘trainees’ who have no claim to permanent employment and are often trapped in unfair and exploitative positions. No publisher Edith 2011-09-13T13:09:09Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/urgent-appeal-for-human-rights-defender-charles-hector Many of you have already responded to petition and call on Hitachi, who claims to source from Asahi Kosei, an electronic producing company in Malaysia. Asahi Kosei is suing Charles Hector in order to stop him from writing about the threats to the 31 migrant workers employed by Asahei Kosei, who complained about disproportional wage deductions and lack of sick leave. No publisher Edith 2011-08-18T09:36:01Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/minister-bleeker-answers-questions-from-parliament-and-pledges-support-to-makeitfair In honour of International Action Day “Time to bite into a fair Apple – Call for sustainable IT” on 7 May, organised by makeITfair and GoodElectronics, Dutch political parties ChristenUnie (orthodox Christian party) en GroenLinks (left wing greens) asked questions in parliament to Minister Bleeker of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. No publisher marije 2011-08-18T09:51:49Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/principles-and-guidelines-for-innovative-worker-training-programmes GoodElectronics and makeITfair have developed a set of principles and guidelines for innovative worker trainings focused on workers' empowerment.These principles and guidelines are the outcome of the work conference ‘Workers’ empowerment through training Complementary roles of trade unions, NGOs and Companies’ organised by GoodElectronics, makeITfair, Bread for All, SOMO and the Fair Trade Center on 25-26 November 2010, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. No publisher pauline 2011-08-02T09:26:30Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/long-but-hopeful-path-towards-legislation-on-conflict-minerals On 26 May, SOMO organised a Roundtable in the European Parliament, together with Judith Sargentini (Member of European Parliament, GroenLinks). This well attended meeting focused on conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This Roundtable focused on two objectives: urging the European commission to develop legislation in the matter, and offering a platform for Congolese NGOs. The meeting was a success, but the road to actual legislation is still a long one. But doing nothing is not an option, according to Judith Sargentini. No publisher noor 2011-07-11T15:19:24Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/international-attention-to-working-conditions-in-the-production-of-ipads-and-iphones It’s time to bite into a fair Apple. This was the slogan of the international Action Day of makeITfair and GoodElectronics, which was held on 7 May. The global demand for iPhones and iPads is linked to problematic working conditions in factories in China. On the Action Day, consumers, activists and civil society organisations worldwide called on Apple to take the lead in the fair production of electronics. No publisher noor 2011-06-27T14:16:08Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/the-truth-of-the-apple-ipad-behind-foxconn2019s-lies A short video on working conditions at Foxconn’s iPad production site in Chengdu, the Truth of the Apple iPad Behind Foxconn’s Lies, is released today to unveil the exploitations at Foxconn to Apple’s consumers. In addition, it exposes the problem of forced eviction of farmers due to Foxconn’s investment. No publisher Edith 2011-06-20T14:29:33Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/unresolved-labour-issues-at-apple-suppliers-in-china Global demands for iPhones and iPads are generating substandard working conditions for electronics workers in China. This is the main conclusion of a report published today by the Hong Kong based labour rights organisation SACOM. This is also the core message of the International Action Day on Apple initiated by makeITfair and GoodElectronics on May 7th. It’s time to bite into a fair Apple. A call for sustainable IT. No publisher Edith 2011-05-07T10:42:01Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/save-your-face-drop-the-case Japanese electronics company Hitachi is failing to uphold human rights throughout its supply chain – while migrant workers are mistreated and Malaysian human rights defenders exposing this behaviour are facing aggressive legal action, Hitachi keeps refusing to use the means at its disposal to make its supplier Asahi Kosei drop the legal case and respect workers' rights. No publisher pauline 2011-04-18T09:17:42Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/sustainable-procurement-of-computers-2013-an-effective-tool-for-improving-labour-conditions-in-the-electronics-industry Over the past three years, the Procure IT Fair project has been advocating the sustainable public purchasing of computers in Europe. This final statement marks the successful completion of the project, summarizes the project’s achievements and looks at what lies ahead. No publisher Edith 2011-04-21T12:15:20Z News Item http://somo.nl/news-en/important-improvements-at-chinese-electronic-factories-but-pressing-issues-remain Four supplier factories of game consoles and MP3 players (supplying to Apple, Microsoft, Motorola, Philips and Sony) have been recently re-examined by makeITfair and made significant improvements. Some important issues remain however: the wage increases are still insufficient: overtime remains significantly high and lack of awareness of trade unions prevails. That are the conclusions of the makeITfair report ”Game console and music player production in China” that is published today. No publisher Edith 2011-03-16T14:36:51Z News Item