Microsoft has said it will investigate claims that a Chinese factory it uses to manufacture computer mice and other products takes advantage of teenage workers.
The report from the US-based National Labour Committee claimed the KYE Factory takes thousands of 16 and 17-year-old students on work placements, paying them just 65 cents a day and having them work 15 hour shifts. KYE is used by Microsoft, as well as other big tech firms, for manufacturing their products.
During their long shifts, it's alleged that they're not allowed to talk or use the toilet, lest it distract the line of 20 or 30 workers in the goal of making 2,000 Microsoft mice per shift.
"The workers have no rights, as every single labor law in China is violated," the report said. "Microsoft's and other companies' codes of conduct have zero impact."
The workers are only allowed to leave the factory during set, limited times, and sleep as many as 14 to a crowded dorm.
The report quoted one unnamed teenager worker as saying: "We are like prisoners... We do not have a life. Only work."
Despite the rough life, the report said the employees don't blame Microsoft or the other tech firms, but the factory itself.
"And in what must be the best of both worlds for US companies like Microsoft, the workers give the US companies a pass," the report noted. "The young workers never think or talk about the foreign companies and put all the blame on the factory. No one has told them how wealthy and powerful Microsoft and the other companies really are."
"Since the young Chinese workers would never dream of making demands against Microsoft or the other corporations, this permits the corporations to tout their codes of conduct while knowing full well that they will never be implemented," it added. "It's all just part of the game."
Microsoft's response
The report seems to have done its job, as Microsoft now has independent auditors on their way to the factory.
"If we find that the factory is not adhering to our standards, we will take appropriate action," Brian Tobey, corporate vice president for manufacturing, wrote in a blog post.
Tobey noted that Microsoft has inspected the factory each year, and receives weekly labour and safety reports - from KYE itself.
Microsoft also claimed it has required age verification for all workers and cut overtime, claiming pay is inline with local standards.
"Despite these earlier findings, we take the allegations raised this week quite seriously," Tobey said, saying auditors will investigate the report's claims next week, with monitors watching the site in the meantime.
"We will take all appropriate steps to ensure the fair treatment of the KYE workers," he added.
