Li, Qiang
Executive Director
China Labor Watch
147 W 35th St Ste 406
New York, NY 10001
Dear Mr.Li,
Thank you for your recent letter to HP’s CEO Mr. Léo Apotheker regarding working conditions within the electronics manufacturing industry in China. As you are well aware, HP takes these issues very seriously, and since the start of our supply chain social and environmental responsibility (SER) program in 2000, we have made significant progress in raising workplace standards across our supply chain. However, we understand that these issues are complex and require continuous effort and a long-term commitment.
We have reviewed your suggestions for improving working conditions in China, and agree that some of these actions are indeed effective and feasible. Specifically, HP understands the importance of allowing workers adequate and accessible communication with management. Since 2008, we have been working with several Non-Governmental Organizations to implement worker hotlines for a number of Chinese suppliers, and performed associated labor rights training.
We look forward to adding even more hotlines to other supplier facilities, and are currently in discussions to do so. HP also sees the benefit of a transparent approach, and was the first electronics company to publish a list of suppliers in our 2007 Global Citizenship Report. Our current list represents more than 95 percent of production supplier spend and includes added information about our suppliers' social and environmental responsibility programs, where available. Please visit our Global Citizenship Report for more information.
HP is committed to improving workers’ rights and labor conditions in China, as well as globally. We will continue to monitor and improve our suppliers’performance through audits, corrective/preventive action, regular communication, data gathering and analysis, as well as capability building efforts such as worker/management training and development.
We sincerely appreciate the recommendations you outlined in your letter, and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with your organization in the near future.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Michael Turner