Microsoft Supplier Hires Kids, Pays Them Less Than a Dollar an Hour in Supposed "Sweatshops"

The workers' rights group says this picture of young workers taking a nap during a 15-hour shift was smuggled out of the Chinese factory.

A non-profit purporting to defend the rights of workers around the world has just released a report slamming Microsoft. Entitled "China's Youth Meet Microsoft," Pittsburgh-based National Labor Committee says that three years of investigative work has revealed sweatshop-like conditions at KYE, a factory that produces mice, cameras, keyboards and other computer accessories for the Redmond giant.

NLC says that workers -- many of them children -- are paid only 65 cents an hour, forced to work 15 hour days and live in cramped, dirty dorm rooms.

Microsoft isn't the only company that uses KYE. Other name brands like Hewlett Packard and Samsung also have products made at the factory. But Microsoft is its biggest client. And for a non-profit looking to make a big splash, NLC was probably right to tag its report with the world's most recognizable name in software.

Brier Dudley says that Microsoft has responded by sending a team of auditors to check out the allegations first-hand. Of course, since they made this announcement public prior to the visit the element of surprise is kind of out the window.