Social responsibility – a challenge in the IT product supply chain

Like the textile and furniture industries, much of the manufacturing of IT products is carried out in low-cost, low-wage countries, where workers are often less protected and employment less regulated than in more developed countries. Shorter product cycles and a growing demand for new technologies puts added pressure on industry and its complex supply chain to deliver new devices faster and at a lower cost. The result can be poor working conditions throughout the supply chain, putting human health and worker lives at risk.