The U.S. government recently pointed out that South Korean-made indium has been produced using Bolivian zinc, which involves child labor.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor released a report on products globally produced through child and forced labor, revealing this information. The report included 204 items produced by child and forced labor from 82 countries, with South Korea being newly included.
The Department of Labor reported credible evidence that child labor is used to mine zinc in Bolivia, which is then used to produce indium in South Korea. Zinc from Bolivia was first added to the list of products made with child labor in 2010. The report reveals that boys as young as 13 often work in hazardous underground mines in Bolivia.
The Department explained that Bolivian zinc, noted for its high indium concentration, is frequently mixed with responsibly sourced zinc in global markets. In 2022, South Korea imported approximately US$385 million worth of zinc concentrates from Bolivia, which the Department claims were used in indium production. South Korea is the world’s second-largest indium producer, accounting for 22.2% of global indium supply in 2022.
Indium is a crucial raw material in conductive glass, devices with touch screens, TVs, phones, tablets, semiconductors, and solar panels. Therefore, the Department warned that raw materials made with child labor could be present in these products.
The report also noted that North Korea uses forced labor to produce bricks, cement, coal, gold, iron, textiles, and timber. Additionally, it highlighted that persecuted minorities, including Uyghurs, are forced into labor in squid processing facilities in mainland China, with North Korean workers also involved.
Most Commented