While violence and harassment can affect any worker, migrants and women are especially vulnerable.

Gender-based violence

Women workers are exposed to specific risks and challenges in global supply chains. Gender inequalities and social norms contribute to gender-based violence in the workplace.

In electronics production, many of the workers are young women, while supervisors and managers are more likely to be men. Women workers may be subject to verbal and sexual harassment from male managers, or threatened and coerced into sex to secure their jobs, hours, or wages.

You can read a case study here.

Working hours that require women to travel late at night subject them to risks of sexual abuse, and women with family responsibilities may be subject to dismissal or loss of wages if they cannot take on irregular working shifts or care responsibilities.

Migrant workers

Migrant workers may be particularly vulnerable to violence and harassment due to language barriers, limited awareness of their rights, and the precarious nature of their immigration or employment status. They may experience verbal and psychological harassment, including supervisors shouting at them or using insulting language. Restrictions on workers' ability to communicate during working hours may further contribute to an intimidating or hostile working environment.