Foxconn Factories: How Bad Is It?

[OhioChick]

May 6, 2011 03:03pm EST

Foxconn, a Chinese company that produces components for Apple products, has come under fire for harsh working conditions at its China facilities. Recently it was reported that Foxconn even forced employees to sign a pledge promising that they wouldn't commit suicide. But just how bad is it?

A watchdog group traveled to two of Foxconn's more remote factories to interview workers, and found that most were working long hours for little pay, battling exposure to dust and harmful chemicals, and undergoing "military style" training sessions.

Foxconn denied any wrongdoing.

China, Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) is designating Saturday, May 7 as a Global Action Day in order to encourage more humane working conditions. In particular, SACOM is focusing its attention on Apple, which works with Foxconn on production of gadgets like the iPhone and iPad.

"The campaigners are asking Apple to improve their purchasing practices as fair prices and well-planned lead times will allow suppliers to pay a living wage and prevent long overtime hours and Apple has to check the wages and the overtime hours," SACOM said.

More: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385024,00.asp

[notesdev]

1. Here's a clue

if you need to install "anti-suicide netting", you have a morale problem.

[IDemo]

2. It's unfortunate that all of the Foxconn focus seems to be on Apple

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Mac fan; I enjoy both kinds of OS - Windows and Linux. But Apple is only one of many global electronics interests relying on Foxconn to manufacture their goods. If Apple's share of Foxconn floorspace is significantly higher than HP and Dell and Foxconn itself (they make motherboards, too) then maybe they should shoulder the burden of effecting changes. Otherwise, it's unfair to tag them with the entirety of blame for Foxconn's faults with each of these articles.

[Sherman A1]

3. Agreed but,

I am a Mac fan and I do believe that Apple has a responsibility here.

[IDemo]

4. Sure they do, no argument from me there.

But my point was, does all responsibility lie with Apple to the exclusion of Sony, HP, Amazon, Nokia, Motorola, Nintendo, Microsoft, Dell, Cisco and other companies relying on Foxconn?

Do they really own the lion's share of Foxconn's business, or is all the focus on them simply because iPads are sexier than inkjets?

[Bluenorthwest]

5. They make use of a light, sparkling image that most certainly

does not say 'we are just the same as the rest of them'. No, it says 'the aware people buy this'. No company currently advertizing more blatantly claims that 'cool people' use their products, while the others are used by insufferable nerds. Apple products claim in their advertizing that products made under these conditions are 'magical' and 'liberating'. Magical, like a sweat shop is magical.
The claims and the image are theirs to either protect or admit is like all other marketing schemes, out to shake you down and build brand loyalty off of emotions rather than corporate excellence.
I'd like to see Justin Long do a week's shift there at Foxconn.

[Locrian]

6. correct

I also think Apple's Uber secret and tight roll-out schedules lead to a lot of the problems with long hours and pressure.

Not that I dont want to also look at the other MFGS.