4 ms·

Kids May Be Using Laptops Made with Forced Labor This Fall

29 points by karinakarina 6y ago

verdverm 6y ago
Would "slave labor" be more correct? Do the people get paid? Is it enough to have disposable income? Should we call it an alternative phrase anyway? Would this idea evoke more emotions and empathy for change? I do not know the answers. Hoping someone else knows more than I and can inform a discussion.
- yorwba 6y ago
  According to the ASPI report on the subject, "Receiving factories across China are also compensated by the Xinjiang government, receiving a Ұ1,000 (US$144.16) cash inducement for each worker they contract for a year, and Ұ5,000 (US$720.80) for a three-year contract." https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale If those Uyghurs were unpaid labor, I don't think that would be necessary. On the other hand, it's unlikely that factories pay their Uyghur workers more than market rate, so most likely the owners are just pocketing the subsidy. The article seems to suggest a boycott on products made by Uyghurs, which sounds like a way to maintain ideological purity while making the problem worse (usually boycotts are intended to harm the boycotted...) I think it would be a better idea to use unannounced factory inspections to ensure a minimum standard for working conditions.
  - DarthGhandi 6y ago
    Reminder that ASPI are not an independent think tank, they are funded by the US State Dept, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and a whole host of weapons manufacturers. I would really prefer to wait for the UN Human Rights commissioner to visit the region, but she still hasn't gone despite having an open invitation for over a year now. June 2019: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN1TE12Q https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN1T... Feb 2020: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-rights-idUSKCN20K1ZE https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-rights-idU... Still no visit. Prominent Australians On ASPI: > Former NSW premier Bob Carr has accused it of pumping out a “one-sided, pro-American view of the world”. Veteran foreign editor Tony Walker has slammed its "dystopian worldview" which "leaves little room for viewing China as a potential partner". "It lacks integrity and brings shame to Australia," says retired former DFAT chief and ex-Qantas CEO John Menadue. https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/the-think-tank-behind-australia-s-changing-view-of-china-20200131-p53wgp https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/the-think-tank-be...
    - yorwba 6y ago
      I'm well aware that ASPI isn't an unbiased source... which is why I picked that quote, since it runs counter to their biases. (It also contradict the title of the report "Uyghurs for sale", since in a sale you'd expect the money to flow the other direction.) If two opposing propaganda machines agree on something, that doesn't necessarily make it true, but it's better than when only one of them says so.
dudus 6y ago
It will pair well with their clothes and accessories made with forced labor
cityzen 6y ago
Wow, I didn't know that they were giving kids Apple laptops.

29 points by karinakarina 6y ago

Would "slave labor" be more correct? Do the people get paid? Is it enough to have disposable income? Should we call it an alternative phrase anyway? Would this idea evoke more emotions and empathy for change? I do not know the answers. Hoping someone else knows more than I and can inform a discussion.

yorwba 6y ago
According to the ASPI report on the subject, "Receiving factories across China are also compensated by the Xinjiang government, receiving a Ұ1,000 (US$144.16) cash inducement for each worker they contract for a year, and Ұ5,000 (US$720.80) for a three-year contract." https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale If those Uyghurs were unpaid labor, I don't think that would be necessary. On the other hand, it's unlikely that factories pay their Uyghur workers more than market rate, so most likely the owners are just pocketing the subsidy. The article seems to suggest a boycott on products made by Uyghurs, which sounds like a way to maintain ideological purity while making the problem worse (usually boycotts are intended to harm the boycotted...) I think it would be a better idea to use unannounced factory inspections to ensure a minimum standard for working conditions.
- DarthGhandi 6y ago
  Reminder that ASPI are not an independent think tank, they are funded by the US State Dept, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and a whole host of weapons manufacturers. I would really prefer to wait for the UN Human Rights commissioner to visit the region, but she still hasn't gone despite having an open invitation for over a year now. June 2019: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN1TE12Q https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-rights-un-idUSKCN1T... Feb 2020: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-rights-idUSKCN20K1ZE https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-xinjiang-rights-idU... Still no visit. Prominent Australians On ASPI: > Former NSW premier Bob Carr has accused it of pumping out a “one-sided, pro-American view of the world”. Veteran foreign editor Tony Walker has slammed its "dystopian worldview" which "leaves little room for viewing China as a potential partner". "It lacks integrity and brings shame to Australia," says retired former DFAT chief and ex-Qantas CEO John Menadue. https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/the-think-tank-behind-australia-s-changing-view-of-china-20200131-p53wgp https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/the-think-tank-be...
  - yorwba 6y ago
    I'm well aware that ASPI isn't an unbiased source... which is why I picked that quote, since it runs counter to their biases. (It also contradict the title of the report "Uyghurs for sale", since in a sale you'd expect the money to flow the other direction.) If two opposing propaganda machines agree on something, that doesn't necessarily make it true, but it's better than when only one of them says so.

dudus 6y ago

It will pair well with their clothes and accessories made with forced labor

cityzen 6y ago

Wow, I didn't know that they were giving kids Apple laptops.