If anyone has read this book, they will no doubt be challenged with how the global economy and giant #tech companies should be addressing the issues of #childlabour in #cobalt mining in the DRC.

Ardea International previously published a #legalinsight setting out the legal case against Google Apple Tesla Microsoft Dell Technologies when the case was brought in 2019 :https://www.ardeainternational.com/thinking/legal-insight-child-labour-case-brought-against-tech-giants/.

The case was dismissed by the court in Washington DC but the plaintiffs appealed in 2022. Oral arguments were heard in December 2022. This blog sets out key legal considerations in the argument of why the companies should be held liable.

In this report https://tlblog.org/oral-argument-in-doe-v-apple/” it is stated Plaintiffs have a strong case that the companies are liable under the TVPRA for using forced and trafficked child labour to mine the cobalt that is essential for their electronic products. They also have “common law” claims for unjust enrichment, negligent supervision, and infliction of emotional distress. This report https://www.internationalrightsadvocates.org/cases/cobalt. states that “Plaintiffs have a strong case that the companies are liable under the TVPRA for using forced and trafficked child labour to mine the cobalt that is essential for their electronic products. They also have “common law” claims for unjust enrichment, negligent supervision, and infliction of emotional distress.

What is noteworthy is the question of whether the drive to achieving #renewables is putting #humanrights issues at the centre of the agenda. And practically embedding practices to ensure  a #justtransition

What are your thoughts?

#esg #sustainability #climatechange #childlabour #modernslavery #forcedlabour