More than a third of computers are made in poor countries. CAFOD has
uncovered evidence that workers making computers in Thailand, Mexico and
China are being exploited suffering illegally low pay, long hours, humiliating recruitment tests and harassment ( http://www.cafod.org.uk/cleanup)

* Low pay – in China, workers are paid well below the minimum wage of £30 a month. They
have to do illegal amounts of overtime to earn enough to live on.

* Insecurity – workers are kept on short-term contracts of 28 days. They can be hired and fired easily. They can’t get social security benefits like food vouchers, maternity leave, holidays or pension.

* Humiliation & harassment – to get a job some workers go through intrusive tests and are forced to take a pregnancy test. Workers who are pregnant, belong to a Trade Union or are homosexual might be refused work. In one factory in China, workers who made a mistake must wear a red overcoat.

CAFOD’s Head of Campaigns, Alison Marshall, said, “Many people believe computers are produced in some Silicon Valley Utopia. But CAFOD’s report shows that it is often people working in appalling conditions in developing countries who make brand name computers.