Loading ...The labor conditions in Asia have long been a controversial topic, but they have recently come into the spotlight due to concerns over Apple’s working practices in China. Back in January, The New York Times exposed new details involving what takes place in the factories of Apple’s largest supplier, Foxconn.
Ross Eisenbrey, the Vice President of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), told WebProNews that these conditions include 60-70 hour work weeks, chemical exposures, explosions from uncontrolled aluminum dust, and more. In an effort to raise awareness of these issues, the EPI held a forum last week in conjunction with working rights’ groups.
According to Eisenbrey, Apple is to blame since it is in control of the situation. He told us that these issues date back to 2005 and that Apple has yet to do anything to actually resolve the conditions. What’s more, the working conditions at Apple’s Foxconn factories in Brazil are completely different.
Although Apple and Foxconn have agreed to some remediations after the Fair Labor Association conducted an investigation, Eisenbrey remains skeptical since the problems have gone on for so long. However, he is hopeful that consumers will react. When this happens, he believes Apple’s eyes will be opened.
Is Apple to blame for the working conditions in China? What do you think?
people in Apple/Foxconn China earning lower wages than Brazil? DUH! It is not only Apple.. it is the case FOR ALL Companies in China duh! that is why multinationals go to China! so why blame Apple! 60 hours of work is definitely bad… that should be the message but lower wages common!
Get a haircut where you do not have to keep flipping your hair. This will make you look more professional
“Can you explain what’s different between the situation in China and the situation at Foxcon Brazil? Duh! How ’bout this? China is an oppressive communist regime. As clearly stated in the report, Foxxcon in China violates the Code of Conduct Apple has established for it’s vendors. Also, clearly, Apple has begun to move production to Foxxcon in Brazil where the company DOES conform to its Code of Conduct.
The “analyst” proposes that Apple has plenty of profit and that it could afford to double the workers’ wages. Which it could… IF it employed the workers (and, no doubt, if the workers weren’t subject to the Chinese communist regime). But it doesn’t employ the workers. Foxconn enters into a contract to build products for Apple at a quoted price under a set of technical and business specifications including its Code of Conduct. They’re saying that “at X yuan per iPad, we’ll meet your specs and treat our works according to your Code of Conduct” They’re not doing that, evidently with the encouragement and active participation of the Chinese government.
It is highly unlikely that, even if Apple decided to let Foxconn China charge them twice as much per unit, that ANY of the additional money would ever get to the workers. That would be like you telling your Ford dealer that you’re going to pay him an extra $100 for your next Focus so the assembly line workers have better working conditions. Not a penny of your well-intentioned $100 would ever make it to the folks on the assembly line.
Could Apple cancel Foxconn China’s contracts because they’re in breach of the Code of Conduct? Sure. Press reports indicate that they’re saying just that. But they need to have somewhere to move the production to. This report indicates they’ve begun to move production to Brazil. That’s a good thing, and about all Apple could possibly do to put pressure on the Chinese.
“Apple is in control of the situation”? How the hell can you say that? Popawoody tells it like it is.
If it wasn’t for Apple, they wouldn’t even have these opportunities to work? There are millions of people that would love to build iPads for Apple. Obviously, Apple doesn’t like the bad press and they ARE moving to Brazil. PLUS, Foxconn doesn’t ONLY make Apple products. What about Acer, Intel, HP, Dell, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, Cisco, Amazon, Toshiba, Vizio, Nokia and all the other clients that use Foxconn’s products??
Saying things like this will accomplish only one thing: drive stock prices down and allow consumer confidence to falter. How about telling the Chinese gov’t to change the working conditions at Foxconn. See how far that will get you.
Four months paid paternity leave in Brazil? Hell, I don’t even have that here in the US! I only got 2 weeks when I was at Viacom!!
Ross works for a “think tank” – yeah, I think it’s a tank of crap.