engadget.com: #Apple, #Samsung and #Sony linked to child labor in #Africa

20.1.16

Apple, Samsung and Sony linked to child labor in Africa: [engadget.com] The human rights groups say they traced the supply of the metal to Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), one of the DRC's biggest mineral extractors. Congo Dongfang Mining is owned by Chinese mining company Huayou Cobalt. Amnesty used investor documents to uncover the supply chain, which involves locally processing cobalt before selling it on to three battery component manufacturers located in China and South Korea.

In total, 16 companies were contacted and asked about their connection to Huayou Cobalt. One admitted to sourcing materials from the company but four could not confirm the true source of the material. Five firms ruled out any connection to the Chinese supplier, even though they were listed as customers in documents released by battery manufacturers, while two denied sourcing cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.