BBC One Documentary to Profile Working Conditions in Apple's Supply Chain

[MacRumors]

BBC One later this week is airing a documentary, Apple's Broken Promises, that profiles factory conditions for overseas workers who are producing components and assembling the company's iPhone 6. Richard Bilton and his team at current affairs program Panorama went undercover to examine Chinese factory life and mining conditions in Indonesia.

Apple is the most valuable brand on the planet, making products that everyone wants - but how are its workers treated when the world isn't looking? Panorama goes undercover in China to show what life is like for the workers making the iPhone 6. And it's not just the factories. Reporter Richard Bilton travels to Indonesia to find children working in some of the most dangerous mines in the world. But is the tin they dig out by hand finding its way into Apple's products?

The hour-long documentary is slated to air on BBC One at 9:00 PM UK time on December 18. It will be available online for UK viewers shortly after the documentary airs later this week, and may at some point air globally on BBC World News.

This isn't the first time Apple's supply chain factories have been profiled by a major media outlet. ABC's Nightline visited Foxconn's factories in 2012 with the permission of Apple, which provided an inside look at its iPad and iPhone production line. The report documented the long shifts and low wages paid to the workers but also pointed out that Apple was being responsive to concerns that its workers were being treated unfairly.

The Nightline profile was a response to an earlier and overwhelmingly negative report by The New York Times that uncovered the poor working conditions at Apple's Chinese supplier facilities.

Article Link: BBC One Documentary to Profile Working Conditions in Apple's Supply Chain

 

[macintologist]

Prediction: the story will end up relying on hoax sources. Remember back in 2012 Mike Daisey's hoax anti-Apple story about Apple in China on This American Life that was retracted?

Ira Glass: I have difficult news. We've learned that Mike Daisey's story about Apple in China - which we broadcast in January - contained significant fabrications. We're retracting the story because we can’t vouch for its truth.

 

[sanook997]

Will they compare working conditions at Apple suppliers (note the subject employees do not work for Apple) with working conditions at suppliers to other U.S. companies like GE, Ford etc....

Nope, not a chance, because if they did there would be no story.

What if Apple Suppliers treated their employees better than 90% of all other employers in China? Its very possible, even likely but you will not hear a word of it in this BBC go for the ratings grab.......gonna be BS all the way, count on it.

 

[Eric E. Schmidt]

But is the tin they dig out by hand finding its way into Apple's products?

bit of a spoiler right there. but how far down the chain is it the responsibility of the end label?

 

[3bs]

Will they compare working conditions at Apple suppliers (note the subject employees do not work for Apple) with working conditions at suppliers to other U.S. companies like GE, Ford etc....

Nope, not a chance, because if they did there would be no story.

What if Apple Suppliers treated their employees better than 90% of all other employers in China? Its very possible, even likely but you will not hear a word of it in this BBC go for the ratings grab.......gonna be BS all the way, count on it.

Better than 90% doesn't mean good enough.

 

[Luap]

So likely a story about Foxconn more than Apple...?
And will this documentary mention the other companies that Foxconn make stuff for? Like Sony, Nintendo, Blackberry and Microsoft? No? Thought not....

 

[Uplift]

It's worrying that it's based on Apple and not just the working conditions of the factory in general (Foxconn?) .. would they give a ***** if they didn't have a big technology brand like Apple to front it all?

 

[Z400Racer37]

... Typed up on a Macbook Air, right next to an iPhone.. Another hypocrite.. Shocking..

These people are such BS'ers. They'd rather see those people starving on the farms they came from because they're not making first world wages. Who cares if $4 a day is enough to room with some people and buy enough food to live moderately well, especially compared to the farm conditions they came from? We live on the principle that people should be paid more then they're economically worth because they NEED it (whatever the hell that means). Don't they live at the factory anyway? There goes the rent expenses. Besides they're there voluntarily, it's not like there's a gun to their head. They have every right to go back where they came from. But they don't. Because it's better at the factory. Much better. How bout that.

Maybe these first world idiots should stop knocking Apple for improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at a time with these employment opportunities. And before you go tell me about how I don't give a crap about other people or some other non-sense, while you go around advocating policies that will get these kids replaced by robots, why don't you tell me how much money you sent to the "Little Asian kids working in factories for insufficient wages" fund? From your iPhone. You know, because you care so much.

 

[ryansimmons323]

I love the BBC and yes, there are serious issues with working conditions in China and elsewhere when it comes to the production of consumer electronics.

However, out of all the big players in tech, Apple is one of the most responsible when it comes to working conditions in manufacturing.

While other companies get away with it because Apple is taking all the flack for them, those companies do nothing to make a difference for these workers. They make no effort to move production back to the US and they do nothing to help workers.

As for the BBC, it seems that they have an ongoing desire to talk down Apple and to never highlight or celebrate their successes.

I'm reminded of an article Stephen Fry posted on January 24th for the Mac's 30th -

If Rory Cellan-Jones, the BBC’s excellent and totally non-partisan technology reporter, is so much as seen as holding an Apple product he will get streams of trolling invective from mad Apple haters. If he holds up a Samsung and licks it, none of us give a toss. It’s all become very troubling. I notice the BBC have no article in their tech page today even mentioning the Mac’s 30th birthday. I supposed they’re just scared by those weird trolls who think that Apple has them in their pay or something equally mad. I can’t be arsed to go out there and defend Apple products, they speak and sell for themselves. If you think the world is fine enough in all other areas for there to be room for you to be all angry about Apple, then go ahead and be angry. It’s your spleen. Do what you like with it.

It's seemingly out of fear of being called out for bias, maybe because there's simply too much positive news about Apple and not enough in the way of legitimate negative stories.

 

[SavMBP15]

Nothing but sensationalism reporting. Utter crap.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Nothing but sensationalism reporting. Utter crap.

Such as!?

 

[lusky]

I'm gobsmacked at the comments on here. how dare the BBC investigate Apple????? Are you all serious?
It doesn't matter what anyone else is doing Apple are the biggest and they will receive the most attention. I mean how did that argument go down with your teachers in school, i did something naughty but it's ok so does all these other people???

I pay enough money for Apple products that they shouldn't be made with cheap labour. they are making Billions a year in profit they can and should have a 100% clean supply chain. If Apple are forced to clean up better then hopefully that knocks on the rest of the chain. BBC and Panorama have a decent reputation at these things so I'm more than willing top five it a chance

 

[gavroche]

Someone should also remind them that they are not Apple's employees. They directly refer to them as Apple employees. They are not. Hard to take them seriously after that.

 

[Z400Racer37]

I love the BBC and yes, there are serious issues with working conditions in China and elsewhere when it comes to the production of consumer electronics.

However, out of all the big players in tech, Apple is one of the most responsible when it comes to working conditions in manufacturing.

While other companies get away with it because Apple is taking all the flack for them, those companies do nothing to make a difference for these workers. They make no effort to move production back to the US and they do nothing to help workers.

As for the BBC, it seems that they have an ongoing desire to talk down Apple and to never highlight or celebrate their successes.

I'm reminded of an article Stephen Fry posted on January 24th for the Mac's 30th -



It's seemingly out of fear of being called out for bias, maybe because there's simply too much positive news about Apple and not enough in the way of legitimate negative stories.

They're altruist socialists, they hate production and progress, because we don't all feel the benefits of it at the same time. That leads to inequality, which isn't fair. And since we all know life should be fair, we need to legislate ourselves out of a productive, unequal society, into an unproductive, equally impoverished society. Because that way its fair.

 

[gavroche]

Such as!?

Well... For starters, they are not even Apple employees, despite being referred to as such in the story.

 

[RobQuads]

Unfortunately Panorama is just another one of the sensationalist programs out there.

Too often has it shown to be very incarnate. One of the worst being the report into Wifi Signals helped by using measurement tools provided by... a company that is campaigning for signals to be reduced using their own hardware / tech i.e. completely bias

 

[Steve121178]

Will they compare working conditions at Apple suppliers (note the subject employees do not work for Apple) with working conditions at suppliers to other U.S. companies like GE, Ford etc....

Nope, not a chance, because if they did there would be no story.

What if Apple Suppliers treated their employees better than 90% of all other employers in China? Its very possible, even likely but you will not hear a word of it in this BBC go for the ratings grab.......gonna be BS all the way, count on it.

Or they may highlight and focus on how bad it really is...

 

[joe-h2o]

... Typed up on a Macbook Air, right next to an iPhone.. Another hypocrite.. Shocking..

.

Regardless of the veracity of the piece (Panorama is a pretty well regarded consumer affairs/documentary production show that covers a wide range of topics), are you aware of what publicity photo is?

You realise that the photo there featuring a number of Apple products is a trailer image for the show itself, yes? It will be used in promotional material.

Alternatively, it could just hilariously rile people up.

 

[Rogifan]

So are they going to look into every other company that manufactures stuff in China? The focus is on Apple for one reason: Apple draws eyeballs.

----------

They're altruist socialists, they hate production and progress, because we don't all feel the benefits of it at the same time. That leads to inequality, which isn't fair. And since we all know life should be fair, we need to legislate ourselves out of a productive, unequal society, into an unproductive, equally impoverished society. Because that way its fair.

Exactly. I'd love to know how many of these people walk the talk. I'll bet most don't.

 

[gavroche]

Alternatively, it could just hilariously rile people up.

Ha... You seem more riled up than he does. Afwiw, pointing out that it is a promo photo does not change his point at all.

 

[roadbloc]

So likely a story about Foxconn more than Apple...?
And will this documentary mention the other companies that Foxconn make stuff for? Like Sony, Nintendo, Blackberry and Microsoft? No? Thought not....

Well no! Of course not! None of them ship as many phones as Apple. Like it or not, as a big player, Apple are expected to set an example. Its no good just turning around and saying "well these guys do it too..."

Especially when Apple claim to care for their manufacturing workers.

 

[mbh]

Apple's Broken Promises

Nice title. I'm sure this will be a fair and accurate report.

 

[Uplift]

I love the BBC

The BBC and the reporting it supports needs to die, it's a politically biased corp ran by the government that has turned a blind eye to pedophilia, and because i own a TV i'm legally required to support it as well.. The whole thing needs disbanding.. but this is another debate

 

[roadbloc]

Nice title. I'm sure this will be a fair and accurate report.

I'm sure it will. The BBC have a duty to be fair, impartial and unbiased and I have not seen anything from them yet that suggests otherwise.

 

[mercuryjones]

person 1: "we need a story that's going to grab viewers"
person 2: "Let's do a story on the Apple supply pipeline and how bad some of the Apple employees are treated"
person 3 (voice of reason)"But, these employees don't really work for Apple. Plus, wouldn't the supply pipeline and factories also handle other companies products as well? Why not just report on the overall story and not just limit it to Apple?"
Person 1 and 2: "clean out your desk."
And the anti Apple party rejoiced, for they saw the report and found it to be good.