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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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pegatron_logo_small-250x145.jpg
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese worker's rights group has brought forth allegations of poor working conditions at Pegatron, a primary supplier to Apple and longtime electronics manufacturing company. Specifically, the worker group accuses that the company has made numerous safety and workplace violations, including the unethical holding of worker pay and identification cards, as well as poor living conditions within the factory including tight living quarters and packed cafeterias.

Apple has replied to the allegations, stating the following:
Apple is committed to providing safe and fair working conditions throughout our supply chain. We lead the industry with far-reaching and specialized audits, the most transparent reporting and educational programs that enrich the lives of workers who make our products. Apple is the first and only technology company to be admitted to the Fair Labor Association, and we are dedicated to protecting every worker in our supply chain.

As a part of our extensive Supplier Responsibility program, Apple has conducted 15 comprehensive audits at Pegatron facilities since 2007, covering more than 130,000 workers making Apple products including annual audits of Pegatron's final assembly locations and surprise audits at both RiTeng and AVY within the past 18 months.

Additionally, we have closely tracked working hours at all of these facilities. Our most recent survey in June found that Pegatron employees making Apple products worked 46 hours per week on average. Excessive overtime is not in anyone's best interest, and we work closely with our suppliers to prevent it. Apple surveys working hours for more than 1 million employees across our supply chain each month and we report the findings on our website.
Apple also confirmed that various labor brokers affiliated with Pegatron were withholding ID cards, and further committed to investigating claims against the company. Analysts estimate that Pegatron's Pudong district factory now produces one-third of the world's iPhone and iPads, with the company as a whole expanding its overall workforce from 50,000 workers in March to 70,000 presently.

The news comes after Apple announced last week that it was forming an academic advisory board for its Supplier Responsibility program, saying that it wanted to ensure "safe and ethical working conditions wherever its products are made." Apple has also published Supplier Responsibility Progress Reports every year since 2007, tracking the ethical progress of its suppliers in order to bring transparency to its product manufacturing process.

Article Link: Chinese Labor Group Alleges Poor Working Conditions at Apple Supplier Pegatron
 

keysofanxiety

macrumors G3
Nov 23, 2011
9,539
25,302
It's good that this is being brought to public attention and that Apple are trying to do something about this. Let's hope other manufacturers such as HP and DELL do their own internal investigations in these factories.

Shame other computer companies can copy Apple's laptops, but not their ethics ;)

Yes, I'm aware Apple aren't perfect either, please take what I said with a pinch of sodium chloride
 

madKIR

macrumors 6502a
Feb 2, 2010
849
801
NYC
Apple can come up with any crappy excuses and long letters trying to justify themselves.
The truth is they don't give a damn! All they care about is the margins: as long as the Chinese floks work for $2 per hour, they are happy!
 

Motawa

macrumors 6502a
Jun 24, 2012
629
1,427
I bet other companies do have better work conditions...:rolleyes: Nah, it's just apple, I guess .
 

linuxcooldude

macrumors 68020
Mar 1, 2010
2,480
7,232
Apple can come up with any crappy excuses and long letters trying to justify themselves.
The truth is they don't give a damn! All they care about is the margins: as long as the Chinese floks work for $2 per hour, they are happy!

Its up to Pegatron & the Chinese government to fix their own mess and not rely on another country to do it.
 

maxosx

macrumors 68020
Dec 13, 2012
2,385
1
Southern California
China is like the wild west. These accusations will continue indefinitely.

So true.

To claim they're doing something about it, is an example of Apple's special brand of hypocrisy in action.

Apple is milking it for all it's worth. They've got everything to gain and nothing to lose. If not for these conditions, Apple wouldn't be the ultra wealthy corporation they are. Addicted to money, Apple's the one that's laughing all the way to the bank.
 

rmwebs

macrumors 68040
Apr 6, 2007
3,140
0
I bet other companies do have better work conditions...:rolleyes: Nah, it's just apple, I guess .

Read the story. Nobody is accusing Apple of anything. Its a supplier, who just happen to supply Apple with a lot of stuff. I'm sure you'll see it reported elsewhere as "Chinese Labor Group Alleges Poor Working Conditions at <Insert Pegatron Customer> Supplier Pegatron".

So no. No its not "just apple" :rolleyes:
 

apolloa

Suspended
Oct 21, 2008
12,318
7,802
Time, because it rules EVERYTHING!
Just continue to turn a blind eye everyone. Meanwhile in other country's where the governments routinely float human rights, the west goes to war with them or arms people to help bring down the governments...

But of course those country's aren't providing the western capitalist society with it's cheaply made tech and clothes.. Shareholders profits way more important then ANY human life, apparently.

Basically, look in the mirror before you look at Apple or anyone else on these subjects.
 

sputnikv

macrumors 6502a
Oct 3, 2009
506
3,184
people often overlook that apple simply goes after the most capable lowest bidder for the job. how they conduct themselves might be well out of apple's control, especially if said company falsely reports their conditions to ensure they keep their contract for future work. it might also be a case of there not being a competetive alternative as many of these companies are as capable and as cheap because of the labor practices they utilze
 

KdParker

macrumors 601
Oct 1, 2010
4,793
998
Everywhere
i wonder if shockwave is behind this. He's always wanted to get rid of megatron.

lol.

----------

people often overlook that apple simply goes after the most capable lowest bidder for the job. how they conduct themselves might be well out of apple's control, especially if said company falsely reports their conditions to ensure they keep their contract for future work. it might also be a case of there not being a competetive alternative as many of these companies are as capable and as cheap because of the labor practices they utilze

It might be completely out of Apple's control, but as a high profile client of Pegatron's Apple can make demand's (which they are doing). If Pegatron want's to keep Apple, they will make some changes.
 

69650

Suspended
Mar 23, 2006
3,367
1,876
England
When you continuously play off your suppliers and manufacturers to get the absolute lowest price above all else this is always going to happen.

Apple should build their own factories and show what can be achieved.

It's a shame that we no longer seem to have any large companies who believe in social responsibility and the welfare of their workers. It all seems to come down to squeezing the last penny of profit out of everything they do.
 

lkrupp

macrumors 68000
Jul 24, 2004
1,867
3,789
Read the story. Nobody is accusing Apple of anything. Its a supplier, who just happen to supply Apple with a lot of stuff. I'm sure you'll see it reported elsewhere as "Chinese Labor Group Alleges Poor Working Conditions at <Insert Pegatron Customer> Supplier Pegatron".

So no. No its not "just apple" :rolleyes:

You must be new. In the U.S. this will definitely be reported as an "Apple" problem. No other manufacturer will be mentioned by name... at all. That's the way things go down here. Put "Apple" in the headline to get the most clicks. standard procedure for news blogs these days.

----------

Apple can come up with any crappy excuses and long letters trying to justify themselves.
The truth is they don't give a damn! All they care about is the margins: as long as the Chinese floks work for $2 per hour, they are happy!

Care to cite a U.S. or foreign tech company that does give a damn?
 

Mackan

macrumors 65816
Sep 16, 2007
1,421
91
When you continuously play off your suppliers and manufacturers to get the absolute lowest price above all else this is always going to happen.

Apple should build their own factories and show what can be achieved.

It's a shame that we no longer seem to have any large companies who believe in social responsibility and the welfare of their workers. It all seems to come down to squeezing the last penny of profit out of everything they do.

It's a rotten world, but what else is new... All will be cleansed by an asteroid some day.
 

tuckrcsb

macrumors newbie
Jan 25, 2011
7
0
Apple can come up with any crappy excuses and long letters trying to justify themselves.
The truth is they don't give a damn! All they care about is the margins: as long as the Chinese floks work for $2 per hour, they are happy!

...says the guy typing this on one of his many Apple products. Lol :rolleyes:
 

guzhogi

macrumors 68040
Aug 31, 2003
3,725
1,804
Wherever my feet take me…
When you continuously play off your suppliers and manufacturers to get the absolute lowest price above all else this is always going to happen.

Apple should build their own factories and show what can be achieved.

Unfortunately, building their own factories would be considered too expensive. Many people and companies try to maximize profits.

It's a shame that we no longer seem to have any large companies who believe in social responsibility and the welfare of their workers. It all seems to come down to squeezing the last penny of profit out of everything they do.

I agree. While profit is important, so is workplace conditions, employee happiness, etc. Plus, Apple could possibly afford their own factories. Maybe even in the US. Plus, think how cool they would be.
 

nascimento

macrumors regular
Jun 15, 2010
151
0
When you continuously play off your suppliers and manufacturers to get the absolute lowest price above all else this is always going to happen.

Apple should build their own factories and show what can be achieved.

It's a shame that we no longer seem to have any large companies who believe in social responsibility and the welfare of their workers. It all seems to come down to squeezing the last penny of profit out of everything they do.

Typical new age anglo hypocritical theoretic.

Shaun they squeeze every penny so that you can buy a cheap TV, computer, Iphone, boiler, fridge, cooker and so that you may retain the quality of life you have in the UK. That includes all the welfare, NHS, subsidies, etc.

If you are a vegan and live off the land ,use no electronics or the NHS then I take back what I said!...and appologise
 
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