Huawei
Information and communications technology
Global provider of end-to-end capabilities across carrier networks, enterprise, consumer and cloud computing fields. Founded in 1987 as a private company owned by its employees, and in 2012 became the largest telecommunications equipment maker in the world.

Overall

Owned CHN
Rating F
About the Ratings
Huawei Investment & Holding Co Ltd
CHN

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jul 2024)
Huawei Investment & Holding Co Ltd
Praise
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 57.82/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
49.5% in Digital Inclusion Benchmark
The 2023 Digital Inclusion Benchmark ranks 200 companies on their responsibility to advance a more inclusive digital society. The companies were assessed using four measurement areas: access, skills, use and innovation. This company ranked #32/200, with a total score of 49.5/100.
Criticism
Involvement with Burma
This company appears on Burma Campaign UK's 'Dirty List' of companies assisting the Burmese military to continue to commit human rights violations and environmental destruction. Huawei is a Chinese communications technology company that has faced sanctions and restrictions from the American and other governments over security concerns. In Burma it works for the military owned Mytel mobile phone network, helping them develop their 5g network. Huwai also hosts apps for Mytel in its AppGallery. Huawai is also involved in the so-called 'Safe Cities' facial recognition monitoring system being installed in cities in Burma, which can be used by the military for the monitoring of activists and is a serious risk to human rights in the country. Huawei also helped facilitate the indirect purchase by Telenor of surveillance technology from German company, Utimaco which will enable the Burmese military to monitor Telenor customers.
17.4% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 17.4% (Weak).
Forced labour in China
The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including brands owned by this company. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's 2020 report estimates (somewhat conservatively) that more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019, and some of them were sent directly from detention camps.
Source: ASPI (2020)
3/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 3/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Workers rights in China
A 2023 report by China Labor Watch investigated labour conditions in China's consumer electronics sector using three stages of research: analysis of social media posts, case studies through online research, and in-person factory investigation. Labour abuses in factories supplying this company were identified in multiple social media posts and a factory investigation. Labour abuses include excessive working hours, illegal use of student interns, wage theft and wage arrear, poor food and/or living conditions, high labour intensity, workplace bullying and verbal abuse, mandatory overtime, discrimination, deception, and sexual harassment.
Information
BHRRC company profile
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre digital platform presents news and allegations relating to the human rights impact of over 20,000 companies. Their enhanced Company Dashboards also include financial information, key data points based on corporate policies, and scores from prominent civil society benchmarks. Follow the link and use the search function to view this company's dashboard.
> About the Icons

Company Details

Type:
Private company
Revenue:
39 billion USD (2013)
Employees:
150,000 (2014)
Subsidiaries:
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Telecommunication products and support
Development, manufacture and sale of telecommunication products and the technical support and maintenance of electrical equipment and spare parts. One of China's largest telecommunications companies, with customers in 140 countries.
Huawei Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd
Telecommunications infrastructure
Established in Australia in 2004, Huawei technology is used by all major Australian operators across both fixed and mobile networks, as well as by consumers and businesses. In 2012, around 50% of Australians used a Huawei product for some part of their telecommunications needs every day.

Contact Details

Address:
Shenzen, Guangdong, China
Website:
http://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/corporate-info/index.htm

Products / Brands

Huawei Australia
Huawei Tablets
Huawei Smartphones
Huawei Wireless Earbuds
Huawei Laptops
Huawei Watch Fit Smartwatches