Should Apple show more altruism to their workers

[inscrewtable]

After viewing this there is no doubt in my mind mind that Apple should be spending a few percent of their hundred billion dollar cache of cash on a rise in their Foxxcon worker's salaries.

I wonder how much would be the cost to Apple to raise wages of the floor workers by 50%

I think the working conditions are fine with regards to the rest of china. The work seems hard but not overly so in the cultural context and the villagers seem content.

Yet I feel that Apple could raise their wages as an altruistic gesture. I do want to emphasise that I'm not suggesting that Apple is doing anything wrong but I am suggesting that they have the opportunity to give their workers a bit of love. (Better than paying a dividend to the shareholders anyway)

I've just done a very rough estimate based on say 140,000 workers' wages who work solely on Apple products being paid an extra $1 an hour (a decent increase considering the base wage) for 60 hours a week coming to about $3 billion dollars a year.

It is also interesting to note that the Foxxcon suicide rate which gained some traction in the past, is below the national average.

 

[Consultant]

Foxconn Again Raises Wages for Entry-Level Workers
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/foxconn-again-raises-wages-for-entry-level-workers/

Apple to Contribute Toward Costs of Improving Working Conditions at Foxconn Facilities
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/1...ing-working-conditions-at-foxconn-facilities/

After viewing this there is no doubt in my mind mind that Apple should be spending a few percent of their hundred billion dollar cache of cash on a rise in their Foxxcon worker's salaries.

I wonder how much would be the cost to Apple to raise wages of the floor workers by 50%

I think the working conditions are fine with regards to the rest of china. The work seems hard but not overly so in the cultural context and the villagers seem content.

Yet I feel that Apple could raise their wages as an altruistic gesture. I do want to emphasise that I'm not suggesting that Apple is doing anything wrong but I am suggesting that they have the opportunity to give their workers a bit of love. (Better than paying a dividend to the shareholders anyway)

I've just done a very rough estimate based on say 140,000 workers' wages who work solely on Apple products being paid an extra $1 an hour (a decent increase considering the base wage) for 60 hours a week coming to about $3 billion dollars a year.

It is also interesting to note that the Foxxcon suicide rate which gained some traction in the past, is below the national average.

 

[inscrewtable]

Foxconn Again Raises Wages for Entry-Level Workers
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/foxconn-again-raises-wages-for-entry-level-workers/

Apple to Contribute Toward Costs of Improving Working Conditions at Foxconn Facilities
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/05/1...ing-working-conditions-at-foxconn-facilities/

OK thanks for the links however the article notes a wage increase from 900 to 1800 Yuan, this must be the doubling of wages that was already mentioned in the ABC clip. So the clip interview and pay was after that, which seems about right considering the $290 for a months work that they mention.

I'm suggesting that Apple could fund a further $1/hour wage increase which would be a substantial increase as an altruistic measure for 3 billion dollars. The previous doubling was imperative and it was certainly wrong to be paying the wages that they were.

Now however I accept that they are being paid over the minimum wage. But I am saying that Apple on their own, out of their own specialness, their own grace and goodwill, coming from a place of altruism only can well afford $3 billion a year off their massive current profits and it would be a gesture that would befit a company such as Apple which has changed the world.

 

[jasonvp]

But I am saying that Apple on their own, out of their own specialness, their own grace and goodwill, coming from a place of altruism only can well afford $3 billion a year off their massive current profits and it would be a gesture that would befit a company such as Apple which has changed the world.

Apple is a business, not a charity foundation. Their business is making money, plain and simple. If there were some benefit to them in raising the wages of the Foxconn (which, BTW, aren't Apple) employees, they'd do it.

jas

 

[notjustjay]

When you buy a meal at McDonald's, do you feel the need to kick in an extra dollar or two to support the guy who took your order and the guy who put the pickles on your burger?

No, of course not, you say, that's the responsibility of McDonald's. You're just the end consumer, right?

 

[inscrewtable]

@

@

I'm tempted to post a sarcastic reply concerning the meaning of 'altruism'. However I shall resist and simply ask you to ponder that in fact many very wealthy individuals and companies do have charitable leanings and I'm sure that Apple already donates.

I know I'm suggesting something that is not an ordinary thing to do. But then Apple is not an ordinary company. I invite you to ponder my suggestion with more objectivity and consideration and perhaps even 'think different'.

 

[notjustjay]

I'm tempted to post a sarcastic reply concerning the meaning of 'altruism'. However I shall resist and simply ask you to ponder that in fact many very wealthy individuals and companies do have charitable leanings and I'm sure that Apple already donates.

I know I'm suggesting something that is not an ordinary thing to do. But then Apple is not an ordinary company. I invite you to ponder my suggestion with more objectivity and consideration and perhaps even 'think different'.

Well, again, you specifically said in your first post that you wanted such monies to go toward employee salaries. I don't know if Apple donates money to charities or not -- I sure hope they do. But if they do, I'd like the money to go to actual charitable causes, such as infrastructure in poor cities, or building improved facilities, or even food banks and aid relief. I don't think it makes sense for Apple's charity dollars to go toward padding the salaries of employees of some other company.

 

[jasonvp]

I'm tempted to post a sarcastic reply concerning the meaning of 'altruism'.

OK, let me be a bit more blunt:

No, they shouldn't be more altruistic to people who aren't employed by them, unless it will benefit them in some way financially.

Like it or not, the world isn't unicorns and rainbows. Apple is a business. Businesses aren't altruistic. They invest money for either immediate or long-term payoffs. If Apple could see an immediate or long-term ROI from being "more altruistic" to FOXCONN employees, then they'd do it.

Clearly, so far, they don't. So they shouldn't.

jas