Recruitment Fees: Apple discloses the cumulative amount which has been reimbursed to workers since 2008 (US$30.9 million), as well as the process by which it calculates reimbursement amounts. The amounts are determined based on the fees identified through worker interviews and verification with labor agencies or suppliers. The company also outlines the repayment process with its suppliers: the supplier is notified of the violation; the supplier signs probation and repayment terms; the supplier submits a repayment plan to Apple for approval; the supplier makes the repayment to the worker; and a third-party auditor verifies the payment at the supplier site.
Responsible Recruitment: Applied Materials discloses a project focused on assessing forced labor risks in the supply chains of three Asiabased suppliers. It reports that this includes evaluating suppliers’ processes for hiring migrant workers, mapping the journeys of workers and associated recruiting processes, and developing corrective action plans to address the gaps identified.
Rights of Workers in Vulnerable Conditions: HP reports that it worked with a supplier to improve working hours and give longer lead times. As part of these efforts, training was delivered to 450 migrant workers on their rights, and the supplier transitioned temporary workers to be hired directly in order to avoid discrimination and unfair treatment.