Malcolm Owen
A wind farm company in China that has partnered with Apple has allegedly been linked to the use of forced labor of Uyghurs from the Xinjiang region, increasing the number of companies said to be involved with the repression.
A report in May claimed a group of seven suppliers involved in the Apple supply chain were participants in labor programs thought to be connected to the Chinese genocide of Xinjiang Uyghurs. In a second report on Tuesday, it seems one more company has been added to the list.
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology is a major manufacturer of wind turbines, has been accused of taking advantage of the labor programs. The investigation by the Tech Transparency Project into the relatively secretive operations of the producer uncovered supposed evidence from local government posts in 2016 that a factory in Xinjiang was in talks to receive "labor export" from Hotan Prefecture, 500 miles away from the factory.
It is unknown if there was a transfer of workers, as government accounts were deleted, but other items raised similar questions. For example, Goldwind founder and chairman Wu Gang had allegedly took part in a Chinese government campaign promoting ideological education of Xinjiang Uyghurs.
Goldwind has also apparently worked with a paramilitary organization sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2020 over a "connection to serious human rights abuse against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang." Goldwind is said to have made an agreement with the firm in December 2020, following the announcement of U.S. sanctions.
In 2016, Apple made a deal with Goldwind to work on renewable energy projects, which includes a quartet of wind farm joint ventures. The projects are part of Apple's work to make its supply chain in China carbon neutral by 2030.
Two years later, Apple established the $300 million China Clean Energy Fund, to further develop solar and wind projects in the country. It is unknown if any of that funding was paid to Goldwind.
The report surfaces at the same time as another, accusing firms in Apple's supply chain of using discriminatory language in job advertisements to warn minorities from applying for production line roles.
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143 Comments
At this point I think it’s safest to assume that ALL Chinese companies are involved in the genocide of Xinjiang Uyghurs. It has become so widespread. Even if a company didn’t want to use them, they will end up doing so either directly or indirectly.
This is getting ridiculous. Any company doing business with China should assume they're using what is essentially slave/forced labor. Companies need to do the right thing and just stop doing business with this wretched government. Yes, it will hurt and those $50 microwave ovens are going to cost more, but "cheap" is turning out to have a way higher price.
This seems a reverse logic of what really happened. Goldwind Science & Technology may be trying to train Uyghurs to work. If you are being trained you are not considered a formal employee and got paid little. Similar things happened in silicon valley. Some young people wants to get into some high tech company. They volunteered to do work without pay. Without the facts it is too early to judge Goldwind Science & Technology is using forced labor.
I wonder if Apple sites should stop reporting what happens at 3rd party companies. It’s always negative news and it’s never about Apple. Morons refer to these articles and news as “proof” that “Apple employees” are treated badly.
I’m no one to tell sites what to report but this is absurd outside of Apple sites. For example Foxconn manufactures and for a huge variety of companies from Amazon to Microsoft but when ANYTHING negative happens there the news is exclusive to Apple. Headlines like “Apple suppliers being abused” or “Employees overworked at Apple manufacturer” are written... even if those employees were working on the new Xbox. You’ll have a hard time seeing headlines like these outside of Apple. A headline like “McDonald’s beef supplier inhumane to animals” would be hard to find or “Wal Mart electronics manufacturer practicing labor abuse”. Though those companies will be mentioned in the article they’re hardly ever worded as if the customer is responsible or to blame.
A few days ago I had to correct an iKnockoff moron who claimed Apple installed nets because “Apple employees” were committing suicide. Besides so much being wrong with the claim I had to correct the moron and point out that Foxconn is not Apple. Ironically, his iKnockoff was probably manufactured there as well. 🤦♂️