SACOM and WEED publish open letter to Fujitsu calling for constructive engagement with civil society

19. 6. 2009 -
In February 2009, SACOM and
<st1:personname w:st="on">WEED</st1:personname> published an <a href="http://goodelectronics.org/publications-en/Publication_2851/at_download/fullfile">updated
version of the report “The Dark Side of Cyberspace"</a> describing among other
issues the sub-standard working conditions at Dongguan-based Excelsior
Electronics and Compeq Technology in Huizhou, suppliers to <st1:personname productid="Fujitsu Siemens" w:st="on">Fujitsu Siemens</st1:personname> Computers
(FSC). <o:p />
On 20 April 2009, Fujitsu Technology
Solutions (FTS), successor to FSC, published a <a href="http://www.reports-and-materials.org/Fujitsu-response-re-SACOM-Excelsior-report-21-Apr-2009.doc">public statement </a>referring to the report. In this statement
FTS declared to suspend cooperation with suppliers that do not fully meet
requirements as described its Supplier Code of Conduct. Also, Fujitsu announced
to plan to undertake an audit at Excelsior
Electronics<o:p />
On 27 April 2009, Excelsior
Electronics followed with a <a href="http://www.reports-and-materials.org/Excelsior-Electronics-response-SACOM-WEED-report-28-Apr-2009.doc">statement</a>, defending it policies and practices regarding the
protection of labour rights.<o:p />
In an <a href="http://sacom.hk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/letter_to_fujitsu_15june20091.pdf">open letter published 15 June 2009, SACOM and
WEED</a> reiterate their position. The core points of their
message:<o:p />
·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"> The audit announced by FTS is welcomed. Audit
findings should be discussed with civil society
groups;<o:p />
·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"> SACOM and <st1:personname w:st="on">WEED</st1:personname> call on FTS not to 'cut and run' by severing its
business relation with Excelsior Electronics, but to take a constructive
approach by implementing an action plan in cooperation with its supplier and
credible labour groups to address the identified
problems;<o:p />
·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none;"> SACOM and <st1:personname w:st="on">WEED</st1:personname> indicate to be interested in meeting with FTS
and Excelsior Electronics, but not to accept Fujitsu taking a mere observer
role, which would amount to denying its it supply chain responsibility. SACOM
and <st1:personname w:st="on">WEED</st1:personname> look forward to receiving a
favourable reply from Fujitsu by June 30, 2009.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
In its April 20 statement, Fujitsu
writes that SACOM has denied lying open its
methodology of investigation. SACOM and WEED refer Fujitsu back to
the report, where, on page 11,  the research methodology is explained. The
research consisted of worker interviews and field investigations, including 
taking pictures and gathering company information.<o:p />
SACOM and WEED stress that workers
in mainland China who speak to labour rights groups about bad workplace
conditions risk harsh treatment by their employers and even dismissal and
blacklisting – reducing their chances to find work elsewhere. SACOM and WEED
therefore made a conscious choice to protect their
sources.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
SACOM and WEED further stress that
Fujitsu so far has not substantially disputed the research
data.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
Fujitsu, in the 20 April statement,
whines not to understand why
Fujitsu has become the focus of SACOM’s concerns while other companies supplied
by Excelsior Electronics have not been mentioned. SACOM and
<st1:personname w:st="on">WEED</st1:personname> are clear on this point: Fujitsu
is one of the key buyers, and its buying practices are of clear influence on
the labour abuses found at Excelsior Electronics. What is more, in 2007,
Fujitsu decided to award PC Partner's, the parent company of
Excelsior Electronics as ‘best supplier of the year’, clearly demonstrating to
take a different view of this company.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
Contrary to what Fujitsu is saying,
in the report other key buyers of Excelsior Electronics and Compeq Technology
are mentioned, including Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Apple, Sony, Motorola, Nokia and
AMD. These companies have been addressed by SACOM and
WEEd.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
As a follow-up of the report, a
meeting was scheduled between Excelsior Electronics, Fujitsu and SACOM on 2
April 2009. When Fujitsu stated that they would be participating as ‘observers’,
SACOM decided to cancel the meeting, deeming that this positioning could not
result in constructive talks. However, SACOM and WEED still hope that it will be
possible to have a fruitful meeting where buyer and supplier participate on an
equal basis with SACOM. <o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
See also <a href="http://goodelectronics.org/news-en/open-letter-to-fujitsu-calling-for-constructive-engagement-with-civil-society/">http://goodelectronics.org/news-en/open-letter-to-fujitsu-calling-for-constructive-engagement-with-civil-society/</a>.<o:p />
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SACOM and WEED are part of <a href="http://www.procureitfair.org/">procureITfair</a>, WEED as a
consortium member, SACOM as a partner. <o:p />