Example in Action: Apple's* Supplier Code of Conduct and Recruitment Fees

Apple prohibited suppliers from charging fees to supplier employees as part of the recruitment process, despite existing national legislation that would allow recruitment fees. If Apple discovers instances of practices in contradiction to this mandate, the supplier must repay the recruitment fees. Suppliers that do not implement measures to correct these practices risk their business with Apple.

In 2018, Apple was awarded the Stop Slavery Award by the Thomson Reuters Foundation for making public the details of its supply chains in a bid to boost transparency and help end modern slavery. These efforts were implemented in tandem with Apple’s work to update its policies on worker recruitment fees. Beginning in 2015, through its Supplier Code of Conduct, Apple mandated that suppliers could charge zero fees to supplier employees as part of the recruitment process, despite existing national legislation that would allow recruitment fees. If Apple discovers instances of practices in contradiction to this mandate, the supplier must repay the recruitment fees. Suppliers that do not implement measures to correct these practices risk their business with Apple. 

Since 2008, $34.5 million in recruitment fees have been repaid to over 37,700 workers by our suppliers as a result of our zero-fees policy. Apple has also mapped more than 470 labor recruitment, employment, and placement agencies in its supply chains in Southeast Asia.

Source: 

• https://www.apple.com/euro/supplier-responsibility/l/generic/pdf/Apple-How-We-Work-to-Prevent-Forced-Labor.pdf
• People and Environment in Our Supply Chain

DOL welcomes examples of good practices
to address child labor and forced labor.

Email us at GlobalKids@dol.gov.