Sweatshop Free is part of a movement of people across the world, who are coming together to win workers’ rights for sweatshop labourers. Our campaign brings together students and workers in a coalition capable of challenging the root causes of unacceptable working conditions.
Public service union UNISON became the first trade union in the UK to ensure the electronics they purchase are independently monitored for workers’ rights violations. UNISON joined the growing number of institutions in Europe that have already affiliated to Electronics Watch.
Electronics Watch celebrates its first full consortium affiliation, and tenth UK University. Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC), the purchasing consortium for Scotland's Universities and Colleges. All of APUC's 44 higher and further educational institutions became Consortium Affiliates of Electronics Watch through APUC. This was the first time a whole sector of public bodies in a country had affiliated, and demonstrated the push within the sector in Scotland to achieve a transparent and fair supply chain for the products they purchase.
The University of Edinburgh became the first higher education institution in the UK to become a member of Electronics Watch.
You don’t know what is happening behind the screens….
Labour rights violations continue unabated in much of the electronics industry. Low pay, forced overtime, discrimination against migrants, agency workers and women, lack of protection for workers using dangerous chemicals. All of these are the norm across electronics sweatshops. International electronics brands have failed to ensure their workers are guaranteed decent work.
