-20/4/04
IBM has adopted a code of conduct for their suppliers following a catholic aid agency's campaign on dire working conditions [1] in computer factories in the developing world.
CAFOD has been campaigning for brand leaders to take greater responsibility for electronics workers. Their Clean Up Your Computer report issued in January criticised IBM, Dell and Hewlett Packard after research showed electronic workers in Mexico, Thailand, and China suffering harassment, discrimination and intolerable working conditions.
The aid agency welcomed the new IBM code as taking some crucial steps towards ensuring decent labour standards in the companyís supply chain. These include IBMís commitment to work with suppliers to implement the code and to monitor the implementation.
CAFOD Policy Analyst Katherine Astill said, ìThis is a great achievement for CAFODís campaigners who have sent thousands of messages to IBM. The IBM code is roughly as good as the codes of other industry leaders Dell and Hewlett Packard. It is definitely a move in the right direction.î
On certain issues, such as putting in place limits of 60 hours per week for workers and guaranteeing employees a day off per week, IBM now leads the field, say the campaigners.
But CAFOD also said it regretted "failings" in the IBM code.
There is an absence of any provision on the right to join unions, there is a limitation on wage commitments to local law, and an ëexceptional circumstanceí caveat on the 60 hours per week commitment, says the aid agency.
CAFOD however says it is hopeful for greater levels of dialogue with IBM. CAFOD partners, who have knowledge and experience on issues affecting workers in IBMís supply chain in Mexico and China, could play a vital part as the codes are rolled out.
Katherine Astill said, ìAll three market leaders must still improve their codes. All codes have not provided adequately for freedom of association. CAFOD believes that this is a major failing as it is one of the UNís core labour standards. Without the right to join unions, workers will not be adequately represented in the workplace. This will threaten any sustainable improvement of labour standards.
ìCAFOD is still very keen to see that these codes are properly implemented. CAFOD will be campaigning until all three companies adopt and ensure effective implementation of codes of conduct based on UN standards.î
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