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Artículo

29 may 2025

Autor:
By Daniel Murphy, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (UK)

China’s economy runs on Uyghur forced labour

Alegaciones

… Another young man snaps a picture of his overalls and hardhat and titles the picture: “Everyone’s slave is his own master.” The plastics factory where he works has supplied Midea, the white goods brand that sponsors Manchester City football club…

The investigation establishes the most detailed picture to date of how China’s programme to move tens of thousands of people from Xinjiang to work in eastern factories has become an inescapable facet of its export economy…

More than a hundred consumer brands – from Apple to Volkswagen– can be tied to the tainted trade and, for the first time, evidence shows factories directly owned by big brands themselves, like those run by Midea and LG Electronics, have participated in the Chinese government programme. The products implicated include everything from shoes like Skechers to KFC chicken…

Apple and Samsung said its suppliers are regularly independently audited and that recent audits found no instances of forced labour. However, Apple said it is investigating the alleged link to forced labour…

TBIJ’s investigation suggests that previous reporting on China’s exploitation of vulnerable ethnic minorities failed to capture how extensive the practice has become. It also shows that measures taken by major brands and governments are failing to prevent imports of products tainted by forced labour…

[Article names Elec & Eltek, TCL, Transimage (also known as Jiangsu Chuanyi Technology), Hubei Hangte Equipment Manufacturing, Dachan Food, Xinjiang Zhengcheng Minli Modern Enterprise Services, Apple, Volkswagen, LG Electronics, Skechers, KFC Chicken, Samsung, Cal-Comp, BMW, Subway, McDonald’s, Tesla, Crocs, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Ford, Chrysler (part of Stellantis), Mazda, Hyundai, Mahle Industrial Thermal Systems, Midea, and Manchester City football club. Responses to the journalists' requests for comment can be read from Apple, Samsung, Volswagen, BMW, Crocs, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Mazda, General Motors, Ford, Hyundai and Mahle Industrial Thermal Systems.]