From Nasdaq:

A federal appeals court rejected a case holding five major tech companies responsible for child labor in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The companies, including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, were accused of supporting forced labor in the production of lithium-ion batteries. The court found no evidence of their participation in the venture. Plaintiffs may appeal further.

The plaintiffs claimed the tech companies obscured their reliance on child labor in cobalt mining, with some children being killed in the process. However, the court ruled that buying cobalt from suppliers did not constitute participation in forced labor. The decision highlighted the responsibility of other parties, such as labor brokers and the DRC government, in addressing labor trafficking.

The ruling upheld a previous dismissal by a federal judge, with cobalt suppliers like Glencore and Umicore also mentioned in the case. Plaintiffs’ lawyer remains determined to seek accountability from the companies, accusing them of lacking transparency with suppliers. The decision serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding child labor in the supply chain.



Read more at Nasdaq: US court sides with Apple, Tesla, other tech companies over child labor in Africa