Your keyboard goes through hell to reach you
You've probably never given two damns about the conditions under which your keyboard was manufactured. And why should you? As long as it hooks you up with your indispensable Bitterwallet and Frankie Vaughn's eye-popping screen of wonderment, there's no need to offer it a second thought. But as Boing Boing reports, they're not all born into the kindest of worlds.
An investigation into the working conditions at the Meitai keyboard factory in Dongguan City - which manufactures keyboards for Microsoft and HP amongst others - revealed horrific working conditions endured by staff:
“Infractions” punished with the loss of over two hours’ wages (fine of 10 RMB--$1.44), including for—
- “Being 1 to 5 minutes late to start a shift…”
- “Not periodically trimming fingernails, which will affect product quality.”
- “Putting hands in pant pockets while inside the factory or workroom.”
- “Not lining up correctly while punching time cards or at the cafeteria.”
- “Wearing work shoes outside the work room after work.”
The full list is some five times longer, and includes infractions that can punished by firing, which include membership of "illegal organisations" - independent unions; human, women’s and children’s rights organizations and non-state-sanctioned religious organisations.
TOPICS: World News
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