Child labour in the Congo: Apple, Alphabet, Dell, Microsoft and Tesla in the hot seat
The exploitation of workers - adults and children - in the cobalt mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo causes mutilation and death. In the United States, International Rights Advocates is bringing a class action against five technology giants.
Apple, Alphabet, Dell, Microsoft and Tesla are allegedly profiting from child labour in the cobalt mines of the Congo. Specialising in the defence of human rights, lawyers from International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) have filed a complaint on behalf of 14 families in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in Washington. The children of these families who work in the mines are said to be seriously injured, paralysed, mutilated or even killed.
In addition to lithium, cobalt is also an integral part of the components in batteries for smartphones, laptops and electric cars. This raw material - which increases the thermal stability and, indeed, the durability of electronic memories - is, in theory, available worldwide in sufficient quantities. However, two-thirds of the world's needs are, according to some estimates, supplied by the Congo.
Detonated with bare hands by children
The indictment of the tech giants has been carefully prepared. Over years of research, experts in the field of forced child labour have documented these abuses. In his 35-year career, the lawyer behind the lawsuit believes he has never come across such serious abuse of innocent children. This incredible greed and cruelty must stop.
The explosion in demand for cobalt due to the technology boom is causing glaring disparities. Indeed, mining conditions are extremely dangerous and, at the stone layer level, it is estimated that, in small-scale mining, 15-20% of the sediment is extracted with bare hands. Even though some of the world's richest companies are the biggest buyers, the workers - adults and children - are paid just one or two dollars a day for their labour. The plaintiffs claim to have evidence that it is precisely the companies now accused that have supported and favoured companies encouraging abuse and profiting from the situation.
The plaintiffs' children and others were allegedly forced to mine cobalt in conditions that were harmful to health and lethal. In addition to the coercion and harmful consequences, there is evidence that the children are engaged in cobalt mining to the detriment of their education and their future. Some were as young as six when they had to leave school in favour of forced labour.
Are other companies in the hot seat?
It's not just Apple, Google and Co who are in the hot seat. In fact, the research team behind this accusation is investigating other companies in the technology and automotive sectors. Other companies are said to be turning a blind eye to the conditions of this mining operation. In the near future, these could also be subject to legal action.
Apple said in a statement to the complaint that it was deeply committed to responsible sourcing of cobalt. Moreover, in 2014, the Apple company was the first to represent its own cobalt supply chain down to mine level:
« We were the first in the industry to set high standards for our suppliers and are continually raising the bar, both for ourselves and for the industry as a whole.»
Apple also points out that every year since 2016, it has published a full list of all refineries that are independently audited.
« A refinery that is unable or unwilling to comply with our standards is excluded from the supply chain.»
In 2019, it is planned to end cooperation with six refineries.
Following the lawsuit, Microsoft announced that it was committed to responsible and ethical purchasing and was taking the situation very seriously. Dell, meanwhile, is also talking about the "responsible sourcing of minerals" to which it is committed. Dell adds that it has never knowingly purchased raw materials derived from forced or child labour. These allegations are currently being investigated by Dell.
An Anglo-Swiss commodities trading, brokering and extraction company, Glencore, which owns the mines mentioned in the indictment, also made representations:
« We do not tolerate any form of child or forced labour in our supply chain. We respect human rights and support their observance in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.»
Glencore does not buy, process or trade cobalt or copper that has been mined by hand. The company will not be prosecuted in these proceedings.
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