Union calls for audit of KiwiRail trains amid slave labour concerns
Thursday, 6 May 2021
The union for rail workers wants assurances new KiwiRail locomotives are not being made with slave labour in China.
KiwiRail recently ordered 10 new DL class diesel locomotives from Chinese train manufacturer CRRC, in addition to the fleet of 63 engines it has bought from the company since 2009.
CRRC was named in February 2020 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) as one of 82 companies “potentially directly or indirectly benefiting from the use of Uyghur workers outside Xinjiang through abusive labour transfer programmes as recently as 2019”.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is now investigating whether 98 electric buses it is about to lease were implicated.
**READ MORE:
* Are Wellington's new buses being made by forced Uyghur labour? An investigation is under way
* NZ’s electric buses prompt forced Uyghur labour concerns
* Editorial: Ditching electric trains is shortsighted
**
Rail and Maritime Transport Union general secretary Wayne Butson said CRRC’s alleged links to modern slavery were a major concern and the Government needed to ensure KiwiRail checked its suppliers were not engaged in human rights abuses.
As a state-owned enterprise, any involvement with unethical practices would place both KiwiRail and New Zealand in a compromised position, he said.
Late last month, a KiwiRail spokesperson told Newsroom the state-owned company didn’t have the skills or experience required to carry out comprehensive human rights assessments of overseas corporations.
“Instead we rely on government policy as advised by agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
'Similarly, assessments of any security implications related to our suppliers are more appropriately made at a government level, and we would follow government advice on such matters.'
Butson said that statement was irresponsible and the situation was now a matter of public record and concern.
“KiwiRail is a large state-owned enterprise that has the capability – and responsibility – to be across any issues that could damage its reputation or New Zealand’s reputation.”
Butson said it was obvious KiwiRail needed to review its procurement policies, as the DL class locomotives had already had major problems, such as asbestos contamination and poor performance.
China’s alleged persecution of 12 million Uyghur Muslim people has been condemned around the world.
On Wednesday, Parliament unanimously declared that 'severe human rights abuses' were occurring against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang.
The declaration comes after the US State Department earlier this month declared China was committing genocide and crimes against humanity.
In March, the New Zealand Government supported the US, Britain, Canada, and the European Union when they announced sanctions aimed at freezing the assets of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary force which is held responsible for human rights abuse.