LCA of an Ecolabeled Notebook - GreenDeltaTC

Interpretation of the Social Life Cycle Assessment
6.1.3.2 The Electronic Sector in Emerging Economies
The study considers the electronic industry in China and the Philippines as EEs. The
investigation showed that in both countries companies are mainly located in special
economic zones. These economic zones enable the companies to defy national control
to a certain degree, what leads among others to poor working conditions.
� Workers
□ Freedom of association and collective bargaining: In Philippine EPZs trade unions
are not allowed; thus there is no influence of trade unions to company behaviour.
There are unions in China, but they are not independent. Hence, the
power of trade unions in China is very low.
□ Fair salary: Companies pay the minimum wage as basic wage, but the minimum
wage does not cover living costs. Therefore, employees are forced to work long
hours, as also the allowances and bonus payments are not sufficient. In addition,
deductions for “misbehaviour” are common.
□ Working time: 10 - 12 working hours per day, six days a week are common. In
peak seasons employees have to yield up their day off, even if it could be
proved only in a few cases.
□ Discrimination: Companies in the Chinese and Philippine electronic sector prefer
the employment of young women. Furthermore, the majority of Chinese
companies have irreproducible restrictions to body height. In addition, companies
have implemented strict rules to control and outface the workers. These
rules are also misused to legitimate wage deductions.
□ Health and safety: Companies provide protective clothes, but these protective
wear is in many cases not suitable. Beyond that, there is a lack of safety training,
what could reduce the frequency of accidents.
□ Social benefits: Near all companies pay social benefits, but many enterprises
infringe national laws regarding working time and discrimination.
� Local community
□ Access to immaterial resources: The freedom of expression in the considered
sector is severely restricted. In addition, companies do not initiate comprehensive
education projects.
□ Safe and healthy living conditions: The industry, including the electronic sector,
poses especially in China a considerable environmental problem. Emissions
of hazardous substances to water and air and a high energy consumption exacerbate
the situation. The environmental pollution causes several health problems.
□ Local employment: At least in China the majority of employees in the electronic
sector are migrant workers. In the economic centres of the east coast
there are not sufficient labourers to fill the vacancies. These migration movements
have a variety of negative social impacts.
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