"Toxic Tech: Occupational poisoning in ICT manufacturing", 23 June 2020

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The manufacturing of ICT products in the Philippines takes place in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) where working conditions are often poor and the social and legal protections for workers insufficient. Women interviewed for this report work in poorly ventilated rooms where they are exposed to chemicals with well-known hazardous effects. The laws in place to protect them are not sufficiently implemented and the women state that they work without appropriate protective equipment and safety instructions. The workers describe severe effects on their health and the health of their unborn children; effects that to a large degree corresponds with the known effects of the chemicals used in the processes. In fact, for the women interviewed in this study, cancer and miscarriages are so common that they have become the norm.

Swedwatch’s research thus indicates that the human rights of the workers are severely impacted. Companies sourcing ICT components and products from the Philippines are linked to these impacts through their business relationships and must act to ensure respect for human rights in this context.

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No company sourcing devices and/or components from such a high-risk context can reasonably claim ignorance of the facts, be it regarding the risks inherent in exposure to hazardous chemicals or the human rights situation. Exporting lethal hazards along with production must never be an acceptable business practice.