The HP Student and Dispatch Worker Standard for Supplier Facilities in the People’s Republic of China, the first such standard in our industry, addresses the significant increase in the use of student and dispatch workers in China. It requires that all student work is voluntary, local regulations on student workers are met, only limited numbers of student workers are used for HP production (below 20% of the total workforce), and students are employed in roles that further their education.

We monitor progress through KPI tracking of student, dispatch, and young workers, which Chinese suppliers report to us monthly. This data shows that in 2014 94% of suppliers maintained student worker levels below 20% of the total workforce related to HP production, a threshold we set the previous year. This tracking is separate from auditing and provides more frequent oversight of supplier progress.

We also undertake specific, onsite student worker assessments and require corrective actions for any nonconformances. In 2013 and 2014, we assessed 90% of high-risk supplier sites in China where we identified the use of student workers. Of the two remaining sites, one was assessed in 2015, and the other was identified late in 2014 as using student workers and is scheduled for assessment. Of nonconformances with our student worker requirements found through 2014, 74% have been resolved—with the remaining cases under supplier corrective action in close collaboration with our procurement teams.