Last month we announced the 20 information and communications technology (ICT) companies we will be assessing this year in our first benchmark. As a part of the benchmarking process, we reached out those companies to offer them the opportunity to provide more information about their policies and practices to address forced labor risks in their supply chains. Thirteen of those companies responded and 12 of the 20 made additional information available, while another company directed us to their website where the appropriate information could be found. The responses received have been made available on the Business and Human Right Resource Centre website and are also captured below:
- Apple (United States) [provided link to this webpage]
- Canon (Japan) [updated their webpage]
- Cisco Systems (United States) [response]
- Ericsson (Sweden) [response]
- Hitachi (Japan) [response]
- Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (Foxconn) (Taiwan) [response]
- HP (United States) [response]
- Intel (United States) [response]
- Microsoft (United States) [response]
- Murata Manufacturing (Japan) [response]
- QUALCOMM (United States) [response]
- Samsung Electronics (South Korea) [response]
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TMSC) (Taiwan) [response]
Methodology
Our methodology framework was developed by the KnowTheChain partners, through consultation with experts in civil society, industry, and social investment. The framework covers seven themes: commitment and governance; traceability and risk assessment; purchasing practices; recruitment; worker voice; monitoring; and remedy. The companies to be benchmarked were selected on the basis of their market capitalization and the extent to which their business consists of hardware manufacturing.