Protecting Supply Chain Workers from Forced Labor

Jul 20, 2016 8:25 AM ET

Foreign migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitative labor practices and at risk for forced labor. In 2014, Hewlett-Packard Company was the first IT company to develop its own Foreign Migrant Worker Standard, which sets requirements for the re­cruitment, selection, hiring, and management of foreign migrant workers by or on behalf of suppliers doing business with us. The standard requires direct employment of foreign migrant workers, protects workers from passport and personal documentation retention by management, and prohibits worker-paid recruitment fees.

To enforce our Foreign Migrant Worker Standard, HP launched an assessment program in late 2015. These assessments are intended to delve deeper into the management systems and practices of suppliers, providing a better understanding of persistent issues that we can target through trainings and capability building.  The Foreign Migrant Worker Standard was also integrated into the Supplier Assessment Questionnaire for nonproduction suppliers with risk exposure due to geography or sup­plier type. In 2015, the company expanded nonproduction supplier engagement to 32 branded merchandise factories across 10 high-risk countries. In 2016, we will continue to improve our due diligence around foreign migrant workers in the indirect supply chain.

In early 2015, Hewlett-Packard Company’s global manager for supply chain responsibility presented on the company’s foreign migrant worker program at the White House Forum on Combating Human Trafficking in Supply Chains in Washington, DC. The panel, which also included EICC’s executive director, highlighted the company’s solutions-oriented leadership in this area. See Human rights for additional information on HP’s approach to preventing human trafficking.

 

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Read HP's 2015 Sustainability report here. 

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