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Top tech firms sued over DR Congo cobalt mining deaths

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MinerImage copyright AFP
Image caption Artisanal mining is general in DR Congo as other people attain it in reveal to develop a living

Apple, Google, Tesla and Microsoft are amongst companies named in a lawsuit within the hunt for damages over deaths and accidents of kid miners within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The case has been filed by the Worldwide Rights Advocates on behalf of 14 Congolese households.

They accuse the companies of vivid that cobalt utilized of their products might possibly possibly also just be linked to child labour.

DR Congo produces 60% of the field’s provide of cobalt.

The mineral is used to get lithium-ion batteries used to energy electric automobiles, laptops and smartphones.

On the opposite hand, the extraction job has been beset with concerns of unlawful mining, human rights abuses and corruption.

The lawsuit filed within the US argues that the tech companies had “specific files” that the cobalt sourced for their products might possibly possibly also just be linked to child labour.

They are saying the companies didn’t save an eye fixed on their provide chains and as an different profited from exploitation.

Image copyright AFP/Getty
Image caption DR Congo produces extra than 60% of the field’s cobalt

Other companies listed within the lawsuit are laptop manufacturer Dell and mining companies, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Glencore, who occupy the minefields where the Congolese households order their children worked.

Glencore mentioned in an announcementto the UK’s Telegraph newspaper that it “does no longer opt, job or alternate any artisanally mined ore” adding that it also “does no longer tolerate any develop of kid, compelled, or compulsory labour.”

The BBC has sought comment from Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.

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Media captionWhy are other people in mineral-prosperous DR Congo amongst the field’s poorest?

The court papers, considered by the UK’s Guardian newspaper, give a complete lot of examples of kid miners buried alive or tormented by accidents after tunnel crumple.

The 14 Congolese households need the companies to compensate them for compelled labour, emotional wretchedness and negligent supervision.

In a response to the Telegraph, Microsoft mentioned it was committed to in designate sourcing of minerals and that it investigates any violations by its suppliers and takes circulation.

The BBC has also sought comment from Google, Apple, Dell and Tesla.

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