Apple Drops Chinese Supplier for Child Labor Violations

[MacRumors]

Apple yesterday released its 2013 Supplier Responsibility Report (PDF), disclosing the results of its audit program for 2012 and revealing that it had fired one of its suppliers after finding evidence of 74 underage workers at one facility.

In January 2012, for example, we audited a supplier, Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics Co., Ltd. (PZ)? that produces a standard circuit board component used by many other companies
in many industries. Our auditors were dismayed to discover 74 cases of workers under age 16--a core violation of our Code of Conduct. As a result, we terminated our business relationship with PZ.

Apple's investigation determined that many of PZ's underage workers had been provided by a local labor agency that had conspired with families to forge age verification documents. As a result, Apple reported the agency to authorities, who fined suspended the business license of the agency while requiring PZ to pay the expenses to return the children to their families.

Apple's report touts a number of other achievements for 2012, including a 72% increase in the number of audits performed compared to 2011, worker empowerment training for 1.3 million employees, and increased compliance with working-hour limitations.

We've previously covered Apple's regular updates on working-hour compliance, noting that the rate had fallen in the September-November period as part of Apple's allowance for voluntary overtime during periods of high demand. Apple's new report reveals that compliance with the standard returned to near its highs in December, with Apple's audits showing 92% compliance for the entire year across more than one million tracked workers.

Article Link: Apple Drops Chinese Supplier for Child Labor Violations

[phillipduran]

Man, these kids were shipped over from their families to work and live at these places. Nice to see Apple standing up against this.

[iphone495]

Good for Apple! I feel like these things aren't really talked about in the media.

[RyanR.]

So now these kids are homeless and jobless?

[BornAgainApple]

Kudos to Apple

[Limboistik]

This is both good and bad.
Now the kids have no jobs and no money to send home to their poor families.

Life is different over there.

[BvizioN]

Originally Posted by RyanR.

So now these kids are homeless and jobless?

What? Jobless underage workers? Am I reading this right?
And what does Apple have anything to do with them being homeless?

[szw-mapple fan]

macrumors posting several hours after 9to5mac. AGAIN.

[Chuck-Norris]

So my iPhone 5 could have been made by kids? yikes

[Bubba Satori]

Originally Posted by RyanR.

So now these kids are homeless and jobless?

They could give them portable suicide nets as part of their severence package.

[AQUADock]

Its a good thing that it is getting awareness.

[sportsfan]

Originally Posted by Limboistik

This is both good and bad.
Now the kids have no jobs and no money to send home to their poor families.

Life is different over there.

It's only different because those in power keep it that way....and "capitalism" is part of the problem by exploiting countries that are willing to exploit their population.
It all goes back to the 1%. They feel entitled to their unreasonable compensation so they will do anything to keep it that way. If it were more reasonable, then worker pay could be better while keeping the price of the good the same. Or even if the price were a little higher, every worker is making more money so it wouldn't have much of an effect.

[srxtr]

These families need money, y'know?

I know Americans think "Child Labor" zomg wa-da-fux but without these jobs the families go hungry and homeless.

gg

[lazard]

poor kids, their family's income and standard of living just took a huge nosedive.

[Limboistik]

Originally Posted by sportsfan

It's only different because those in power keep it that way....and "capitalism" is part of the problem by exploiting countries that are willing to exploit their population.
It all goes back to the 1%. They feel entitled to their unreasonable compensation so they will do anything to keep it that way. If it were more reasonable, then worker pay could be better while keeping the price of the good the same. Or even if the price were a little higher, every worker is making more money so it wouldn't have much of an effect.

If you've been to rural areas of China you will understand.
It's not so much the "powers that be" that are suppressing the rise of the middle class.

It really is a developing country in the majority of the nation. Much of the population have led simple lives.

[RoelJuun]

Originally Posted by szw-mapple fan

macrumors posting several hours after 9to5mac. AGAIN.

I don't read 9to5mac so for me it's news.

[Puevlo]

Just great. Now even longer wait times for products shipping. Nobody cares about a few slightly younger workers.

[RyanR.]

I'm sorry to upset so many, but if the families/parents were so caring to forge and "give" there child to a company how well do you think that child will be received when brought back to the said parent.

Maybe you all had a better childhood than I did. I had to legally work underage just to help keep a roof over my families head, not for toys.

[HMI]

Originally Posted by RyanR.

I'm sorry to upset so many, but if the families/parents were so caring to forge and "give" there child to a company how well do you think that child will be received when brought back to the said parent.

Maybe you all had a better childhood than I did. I had to legally work underage just to help keep a roof over my families head, not for toys.

Much respect for you, sir!

[Laird Knox]

Derp: "Apple uses child labor!"
Apple: "We have cut ties with companies that do not meet our labor standards."
Derp: "OMG! Apple throws children out on the street!"
Face: Palm

[Bathplug]

Does this mean my next idevice will be better qaulity?

[WildCowboy]

Originally Posted by szw-mapple fan

macrumors posting several hours after 9to5mac. AGAIN.

We certainly weren't first on this story, but by my count we beat 9to5 by eight minutes.

[ArtOfWarfare]

I worked at my local super market from when I was 14 until I was 17 in the US... This is ageism, nothing but. I don't care about their ages, ask them (our so called "underage workers") what they want. Explain the pros and cons of them working and see what they choose. Don't give me any BS about them being too young to make such a big life decision - I've seen little evidence of someone making substantially smarter decisions at 18 than at 14 (sex related decisions set aside.... Hormone levels do shift a lot, but that shouldn't play much of a role in whether it's a good decision to work or not.)

[Rodimus Prime]

It is a start. Still a long ways to go. Yes keep the pressure up and keep doing it.
Yes I know Apple gets the lion share of the pressure but they also are in the best position to force a real change.

[cire]

I worked illegally beginning at age 14. My mom, a working single mother, helped me forge a birth certificate to work at a Burger King. It provided our household with the cushion we needed to not become homeless. I also saved some of the money and used it (against her wishes) to buy my first computer...a Vic-20. I used that computer to make a game that was published, and went on to become a software developer...and Apple engineer.

Had I not worked at an early age, My life would be very different and probably much worse.