An audit commissioned by Volkswagen found no evidence of forced labour at its factory in China's troubled Xinjiang region, the automaker said Wednesday.
Numerous international auditing firms such as TÜV Süd, Bureau Veritas and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) no longer work in the Uyghur region. They are unable to carry out independent and credible audits there. According to Human Rights Watch, auditing companies have complained about extreme surveillance, the tracking of physical and digital movements and the use of facial recognition. “The employees are paid above average and have little to do,” Loening said, noting that the plant was only used for “technical commissioning and deliveries to dealers in the region”.
Numerous international auditing firms such as TÜV Süd, Bureau Veritas and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) no longer work in the Uyghur region. They are unable to carry out independent and credible audits there. According to Human Rights Watch, auditing companies have complained about extreme surveillance, the tracking of physical and digital movements and the use of facial recognition. “The employees are paid above average and have little to do,” Loening said, noting that the plant was only used for “technical commissioning and deliveries to dealers in the region”.