VW factory in Xinjiang
The group has long been criticized for its presence in the Uyghur region.
(Photo: dpa)
IG Metall is demanding that Volkswagen withdraw from the Uyghur region in China, where the carmaker has a car factory. “Meanwhile there is hardly any doubt that human rights violations are taking place in Xinjiang,” said union boss Jörg Hofmann, who sits on the group’s supervisory board, to the “Wolfsburger Nachrichten”. Therefore, the group board must deal with the issue.
There is currently no indication that human rights violations have occurred at VW itself. “Nevertheless, the question has to be asked as to what it means for the company’s reputation to continue investing there,” quoted the newspaper Hofmann, who is deputy chairman of the VW supervisory board. Volkswagen has been operating a factory in the city of Urumqi together with the state-owned company Saic since 2013.
The group can not only look at what is going on in its own “front yard”, but also has to pay attention to which “street” it lives on. “When human rights violations are visible on the right and left, I demand action,” said the union boss. The group must position itself visibly and unequivocally against human rights violations.
China is Volkswagen’s largest sales market. The company has long been criticized for its presence in the Uyghur region, but has repeatedly denied it, arguing that its presence there helps improve the people’s situation.
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In a statement on the report, the group said: “We are not aware of any cases in which employees of the Saic Volkswagen company were or are in detention camps.” Saic is the state partner in the joint venture with the Wolfsburg carmaker.
New reports about internment camps
The Uyghur Muslim minority, oppressed by the Chinese state, lives in the Xinjiang region of north-west China. Recently, reports about internment camps made headlines there again.
It also spoke of a secret shooting order in the camps. The Federal Ministry of Economics recently refused Volkswagen investment guarantees for China in connection with human rights violations.
The presidium of the supervisory board, which insiders say will meet next week, should also deal with the topic. Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SDP) also sits on the committee. In October, a new state parliament will be elected in the federal state.
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