Apple's Chinese workers treated 'inhumanely, like machines'

[Michaelgtrusa]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technolog...hinese-workers-treated-inhumanely?CMP=twt_iph

An investigation into the conditions of Chinese workers has revealed the shocking human cost of producing the must-have Apple iPhones and iPads that are now ubiquitous in the west.

The research, carried out by two NGOs, has revealed disturbing allegations of excessive working hours and draconian workplace rules at two major plants in southern China. It has also uncovered an "anti-suicide" pledge that workers at the two plants have been urged to sign, after a series of employee deaths last year...........
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technolog...hinese-workers-treated-inhumanely?CMP=twt_iph

 

[benzslrpee]

when you don't grow up and live in the US/Europe, lots of working conditions in different countries and "shocking" and "inhumane".

for many in China (a country that by far have more people than they do jobs) this is a once in a lifetime chance for poverty level men/women to have a fighting chance at obtaining an income stream. is it pretty? no. is it necessary? yes. is it unavoidable? very much so.

 

[Apple OC]

some chinese workers leave their families to work in cities and only return once a year to visit their family ... it is very common

 

[benhollberg]

If you want to work there then do what they say, sign what you need to sign. If you want want to agree and don't want to be treated how you are then don't work there. When you have a job you do what you are told just like a slave or find another job.

 

[torbjoern]

If you want to work there then do what they say, sign what you need to sign. If you want want to agree and don't want to be treated how you are then don't work there. When you have a job you do what you are told just like a slave or find another job.

Or start your own business and employ yourself.

 

[benzslrpee]

the right city officials have to bribed. kind of hard to do without money in the first place.

Or start your own business and employ yourself.

 

[*LTD*]

"Apple's Chinese workers" is a misnomer. They're mostly Foxconn workers. Foxconn workers belong to Foxconn, not Apple.

 

[AppleScruff1]

"Apple's Chinese workers" is a misnomer. They're mostly Foxconn workers. Foxconn workers belong to Foxconn, not Apple.

I'm sure that Apple knows nothing about the working conditions.

 

[SidBala]

I'm sure that Apple knows nothing about the working conditions.

Even if they did, I am not sure they would/could do anything.

 

[mrsir2009]

Yeah. Its called 2nd world factories, and they make most of the products we use in the west. Why your picking on Apple, I don't know. Practically everything is made like that over there, whats the difference if its Apple products?

 

[rdowns]

Apple is aware of it.

http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2011_Progress_Report.pdf

 

[Huntn]

Some observations:
I'm not making excuses, but 3rd world country standards are not ours. Income is income where there was none before. However our standards are our standards. Do we want to live in a feudal society with poor who just scrape by overseen by Lords and Ladies? Something to ponder.

Now think about those big profits Apple and all corporation who use 3rd world labor get to enjoy!

Finally, regarding a manufacturing work environment, the Republican's are working hard to turn this country into another China.

 

[happylittlemac]

The article makes for a depressing reading, hearing about how these Foxconn workers are treated. But as far as I can see the media is dumping all the blame for this on Apple. Sure I'd like to see Apple take Foxconn to task over these working conditions and encourage conditions to improve. But Foxconn don't just make parts for Apple systems, there is a Foxconn made motherboard in my HP PC, but I don't see HP being given the same treatment?

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The article makes for a depressing reading, hearing about how these Foxconn workers are treated. But as far as I can see the media is dumping all the blame for this on Apple. Sure I'd like to see Apple take Foxconn to task over these working conditions and encourage conditions to improve. But Foxconn don't just make parts for Apple systems, there is a Foxconn made motherboard in my HP PC, but I don't see HP being given the same treatment?

I can promise you Apple does not want to take Foxconn over simple because they can sit back and say that is not our company. Safe to say if Apple owned them the workers would be treated the same.
It is sad that no company wants to step up and do the right thing. They are all ok with this. I also believe Apple is one of Foxconn biggest clients so Apple really could use its power to force them to improve conditions.

I know Coca cola in the past in its 3rd world factories used its power to improve condistions. Wages at those plants were like 40 a week compared to the average in the country at 20 for the same job. (Basically double the wages) This along with the fact that they were pushing to improve conditions in the factories. I wish Apple would do the same

 

[Cabbit]

Well all the other companies would be happy if Apple has to put in the work to improve the conditions, it'll save the other guys money.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Well all the other companies would be happy if Apple has to put in the work to improve the conditions, it'll save the other guys money.

chances are it would increase cost for everyone across the board but at the same token someone needs to do it.

 

[Cabbit]

chances are it would increase cost for everyone across the board but at the same token someone needs to do it.

But only one of them gets the bad press for it.

 

[mrsir2009]

Well is anyone here going to stop buying Apple products because of this? If not, then nothing is going to change - Why would it need to?

 

[neutrino23]

The Guardian article is really a slam on Apple. They don't say, for example, how the pay or working conditions compare to those of other factories in China. Foxconn might be the worst of the worst or a shining example, we won't learn that from this article.

They don't reveal averages, they cherry pick some numbers. So one worker out of 500,000 worked 98 hours overtime. Check the papers, we have bus drivers in some major cities putting in 100 hours of overtime a month. (doubling their wages with overtime means additional hours at 1.5 their rate. 160 / 1.5 is 106 hours of overtime a month). Not saying it is a good thing but it happens.

They mention the statistics about suicide but don't compare that to the general population. Look at any city of 500,000 people. Suicides do occur. The comment by the manager about copycat suicides is valid. It's gruesome but true. Whenever there is a well publicized suicide in the news suicide rates go up. Partly due to the concept of social proof.

I'm not trying to exonerate Foxconn, but if you want to criticize them then the data should be stronger. From what I've seen in China the Foxconn factory doesn't seem so bad, but I'm happy to be educated. You have to remember that this is a work in progress. It will not stay this way. Wages are going up. Working conditions are improving.

You have to consider where they started. The Cultural Revolution basically wiped the slate clean. It was chilling when I met with professors who told me how they were sent out into the fields to learn from the peasants. The violence and chaos were quite bad.

Read The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair to see what working conditions were like in America about 100 years ago. It makes the Foxconn factories look like paradise.

 

[InuNacho]

Apple's Chinese workers treated 'inhumanely, like machines'

China also has a knack for filling up the oceans with mercury.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

But only one of them gets the bad press for it.

biggest player who uses them should get the biggest press.
Mix that with Apple bragging at how much better it makes people's lives with said product and a company that likes to be in the media all add up to focus on them.

Everyone knows about Apple. Bad press on apple gets a lot more attention to the problem. Apple has more power than any one else to clean it up.

 

[JG271]

Apple can push for higher standards if they want to.

I work for a reseller, and the people who make the things I sell get 10% of what I get in an hour, for doing much, much more. Doesn't seem right to me.

 

[chrono1081]

"Apple's Chinese workers" is a misnomer. They're mostly Foxconn workers. Foxconn workers belong to Foxconn, not Apple.

+1 That article is extremely biased. Not to mention investigations have already been done into Foxconn before.

 

[chrono1081]

biggest player who uses them should get the biggest press.
Mix that with Apple bragging at how much better it makes people's lives with said product and a company that likes to be in the media all add up to focus on them.

Everyone knows about Apple. Bad press on apple gets a lot more attention to the problem. Apple has more power than any one else to clean it up.

Wrong. Its Foxconns responsibility. Not to mention I highly doubt Apple is Foxconns biggest customer. Foxconn makes things for everyone. You will not find an electronic item in your house that doesnt have some foxconn component in it.

Apple can push for higher standards if they want to.

I work for a reseller, and the people who make the things I sell get 10% of what I get in an hour, for doing much, much more. Doesn't seem right to me.

Good luck. Dell, Sony, HP, Cisco, etc etc will have to push for higher standards too.

 

[xlii]

Chinese manufacturing today is what manufacturing in the US was like 100 years ago. Here in the US it gave rise to labor unions, struggles and eventually better working conditions for all. The same will happen in China but it might take 20 to 30 years. Right now they are happy just to have a job and some coin in their pockets.