Technology giant Microsoft said Wednesday it is conducting an investigation after receiving reports about the harsh working conditions in one of its factories in China.
In a statement, the US company said it is taking the issue seriously and vows to take the appropriate action in case the vendor has committed labor violations against the factory workers in Dongguan city, Guangdong province.
The company said the vendors are required to conform to the Microsoft code of conduct, making them accountable for misconduct and labor violations.
“Microsoft wants its vendors to conform to the company’s code of conduct that requires them to give fair treatment and safety to their workers”, Microsoft said in a statement.
Few days ago, the National Labor Committee (NLC) has released a report showing that KYE Systems Corp, Microsoft’s vendor in China, is committing labor violation as it employs hundreds of minors aged 16 and 17 years old who work 15-hours a day for every six or seven days per week.
The human rights group alleges that workers from the said factory are paid 65 cents per hour but would only take 52 cents after the company has deducted the food expenses.
The group also claimed the workers were required to spend 97 hours in the factory and to work more than 80 hours every week between 2007 and 2008. In 2009, the group said the working hour was reduced to 68 hours but the workers were required to stay in the factory for 83 hours per week.
The Chinese factory was also accused of prohibiting workers to talk and use the bathroom during the working period. Those who violated these policies were required to clean the bathrooms as a punishment, NCL said in its report.
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