HP sets policies limiting student labor in Chinese factories

February 08, 2013

Hewlett-Packard has issued new guidelines to limit the use of student labor at its supplier factories in China, in what it says is the first of its kind for the information technology industry. The company issued the guidelines to address "the significant increase" in students and temporary workers used at factories in the country, it said in a statement on Friday. Under the new rules, student and temporary workers can leave their jobs at any time, without facing penalties. Students will also only work in jobs that complement their area of study. Many electronics suppliers in China use "interns" from local schools to help meet manufacturing orders during the peak season. But the practice has been criticized by labor protection groups. In some cases, students were forced to work at factories in order to graduate, the groups allege. Others have said students learn little from the experience. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027631/hp-sets-policies-limiting-student-labor-in-chinese-factories.html