Seven Apple suppliers linked to Chinese forced labor programs | AppleInsider

The Apple supply chain partner produce components, coatings, and offer assembly services to the Cupertino tech giant. At least five received thousands of Uyghur and other oppressed minority workers at specific plants that did work for Apple, according to an investigation by human rights groups and The Information.

According to the report, evidence suggests that Advanced-Connectek, Luxshare Precision Industry, Shenzhen Deren Electronic Co., Avary Holding, AcBel Polytech, CN Innovations, and Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co. participated in the forced labor programs.

To identify those manufacturers and supply partners, the investigation used previously unreported public statements, images, and videos by Chinese government offices and state-run media organizations. That evidence found that the companies participated in what the Chinese call a poverty alleviation program.

“All state-sponsored labor recruitment programs in Xinjiang must be understood as compulsory labor because no minority citizen in the region has the ability to refuse to participate in the programs,” said human rights professor Laura Murphy told The Information.

Because Apple hasn’t disclosed the full list of the supply chain partners it uses, The Information separately confirmed the links to the Cupertino tech giant with public and internal documents, as well as interviews with employees.

The U.S. and other governments have accused China of committing a genocide against more than 1 million Uyghurs, a Muslim minority from the Chinese region of Xinjiang. China allegedly uses so-called poverty alleviation programs to subjugate the Muslims, assimilate them into Han Chinese culture, and rid them of their Islamic religious beliefs.

The Chinese government says that the programs are meant to lift Xinjiang residents out of poverty. Xinjiang has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. China also says the work camps in which Uyghurs are allegedly imprisoned are vocational and training centers established to prevent terrorism.

Apple told The Information that “looking for the presence of forced labor is part of every assessment we conduct in every country where we do business.”

“Despite the restrictions of Covid-19, we undertook further investigations and found no evidence of forced labor anywhere we operate. We will continue doing all we can to protect workers and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect,” Apple said.

In July 2020, Apple supplier O-Film Tech was among 11 companies accused of benefitting from those forced labor programs.

Apple at the time said it carried out a thorough review of its supply chain and found no evidence of human rights abuses. During an antitrust hearing in July 2020, Apple CEO Tim Cook told Congress that “forced labor is abhorrent,” adding that Apple would “terminate a supplier relationship if it were found.”

In December 2020, Apple reportedly cut ties with O-Film after learning that the company had actually participated in the forced labor program.