nettime's_roving_reporter: SJ Merc: high tech's hidden labor

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Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 22:06:30 -0100 
From: nettime's_roving_reporter <nettime@desk.nl>
Subject: San Jose Mercury News: high tech's hidden labor

http://www.sjmercury.com/svtech/news/special/piecework/index.html

High Tech's Hidden Labor

In apparent violation of labor, tax and safety laws, many local
electronics contract manufacturers are paying a loose network of
immigrants by the piece to assemble electronic parts in their homes.
Central to the growth of contract manufacturing, piecework has enabled
companies to reduce the time it takes to make a product without incurring
much additional expense. The cost to the local immigrant community,
however, may be immeasurable.

A Mercury News investigation, detailed in a two-part series beginning June
27, 1999, has found that workers, many of whom are Vietnamese immigrants,
are paid by the piece to build electronic parts at home for major local
companies, in apparent violation of labor, tax and safety laws. At least a
dozen local electronics contract manufacturers, ranging from small firms
such as Compass Components Inc. of Fremont to multibillion-dollar giants
such as Solectron Corp. of Milpitas, have been involved in piecework
arrangements within the past year. ''It happens so much, it's scary,''
says Gerhard Mueller, vice president at A-Plus Manufacturing Corp., a San
Jose contract manufacturer that he says does not send work home. ''But few
will talk about it. I guarantee you it goes on all over.''

(...)