ABC Previews 'Nightline' Visit to Foxconn's Chinese Factories

[budselectjr]

If robots take all the jobs, what's left for people?

To be there to stop the imminent robot rebellion against their owners.

 

[linuxcooldude]

oh, not quite done yet. Talking about suicides, we had one on our ship. He put weights in his pockets so when he jumped in the water he would sink faster. About 1,000 miles from no where, he was lost at sea after a day of searching.


While sad and unfortunate, are we going to whine about working conditions because our military is too tough?

 

[jackc]

Oh so its ok to force people to work 60hrs a week with no overtime if they work in a poor country?

Try to save some of these workers from being "forced," they'll probably kick your ass.

Yes, it'd be nice if they all made $10 an hour. That's not realistic.

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I would love to buy many of those workers hidden cameras that look like a shirt button. That's the ONLY way we will see what it's really like in there.

What do you think you're going to see? They work long hours at a tedious job.

 

[TMar]

I love how we take our cultural ideals and try to overlay them on other cultures societies. Perhaps we should go arrest backwoods tribesmen in Africa for running around with their junk out in front of children and label them pedophiles. The way the west looks at suicide isn't the same as the way Asian cultures do. Stop trying to impose your beliefs on other cultures.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

What do you think you're going to see? They work long hours at a tedious job.

We will most likely see what has been alleged by some employees.

The abuse of power, the threats, the unsafe work conditions, etc:

 

[nimrod323]

1.50 an hour?

Long hours plus minimum wage is common in asian countries not just China. take Malaysia for example, despite being modern in terms of infrastructure, a Starbucks employee gets about RM 4.75 per hour which is roughly USD 1.57 per hour, 7 cents more than a foxconn employee, with a 11 hour shift per day. Cost of living isn't tandem with remuneration, but then again you can't compare earning 1.50 in this region to the cost of living in the united states.

 

[gnasher729]

I dont care what you say about all that. At the end of the day, what it comes down to is that workers work 10 hour shifts 6 days a week, are forced to sleep in rooms 20 per person, cannot go home to see there families.

1. Workers who work 60 hours are also paid for 60 hours. This is very different for example from many workplaces in the US software industry.

2. Nobody is forced to sleep in a dormitory. The wages are enough for people to afford a much nicer place to live. However, many people work at Foxconn for a short time and try to save the maximum amount of money out of their wages, so they choose to live in the cheapest possible way.

3. Nobody is forced to stay away from their families. But actually, many people work at Foxconn for a short time and try to safe the maximum amount of money for the time when they return to their families, so they don't travel forth and back.

 

[Taz Mangus]

Forget about wages, how about plain human decency? We expect China to conform to our standards of human rights, but at the same time its ok to let their workers be abused? And dont say it's foxconn's fault. Apple can make foxconn hire more workers so they dont have to work so hard. But apple is greedy. Instead of 100b in the bank, apple might only have 99b if it tried to improve work conditions.

You really don't understand what a US company can and can't do in a foreign country.

 

[drorpheus]

Don't go Apple bashing because they don't manufacture in America. A lot of companies import their goods from other countries.

American manufacturers have priced themselves out of the competition. A restrictive business tax climate coupled with a shortage of cheap labor in the U.S. has pushed many American companies to seek the manufacture of their products in other countries.

If you really want an American assembling the next iPad, there is nothing stopping you from going to China and applying for a job at Foxconn. Hope you don't mind the $1.50 a day pay!

There you go, lead the race to the bottom. Please elaborate on the oh so oppressive tax climate buzzword you speak of. Last I checked US corporate profits are up 200-300%. Since cheap labor is the future I don't see you bragging about how you can conservatively live off $50/wk. Keep on feeling sorry for Apple. I'm sure having suicide nets hanging off the front of buildings shows that it is really a top notch factory to work at.

 

[robgendreau]

People really should read the NY Times articles on Foxconn.

I was surprised at the level of education of many of the workers. Indeed, Apple execs are quoted that the level of expertise of the manufacturing system itself, and not just cost, is what is driving them to go overseas. They simply couldn't find enough qualified people here fast enough who could also do the work. They've got thousands and thousands of engineers working there at Foxconn. This is one of the big rationales for Jobs' comment that the jobs weren't gonna come back.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Try to save some of these workers from being "forced," they'll probably kick your ass.

Yes, it'd be nice if they all made $10 an hour. That's not realistic.

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What do you think you're going to see? They work long hours at a tedious job.

They are forced to work long hours.

 

[drorpheus]

People really should read the NY Times articles on Foxconn.

I was surprised at the level of education of many of the workers. Indeed, Apple execs are quoted that the level of expertise of the manufacturing system itself, and not just cost, is what is driving them to go overseas. They simply couldn't find enough qualified people here fast enough who could also do the work. They've got thousands and thousands of engineers working there at Foxconn. This is one of the big rationales for Jobs' comment that the jobs weren't gonna come back.

Yet Samsung has had no problem finding the workforce in the USA to create the core of the ipad and iphone. Steve Job's said jobs weren't gonna come back because he no longer wants to pay for it since China can do an acceptable job for pennies on the dollar. Steve Job's had been courting Pres. Obama since 2008 to try and get the US to have another tax holiday for stingy coporations, that happen in 05/06 and what happened, no jobs, no investment no nothing, just a massive buyback of stocks for the Board of Directors with there money that was parked offshore to evade paying taxes. Its funny my Mac from 2005 was Assembled in the USA, I wonder how they were able to afford to do that with only a fraction of the cash they have now.

 

[jackc]

They are forced to work long hours.

In the same sense that every salaried worker is forced to work long hours?

Again, see if they thank you if you try to save them from their job.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I don't understand why so many people will crusade the argument that because they have relatively better working conditions and wages than other manufacturing companies that Foxconn and Apple should be cut some slack. Who cares what other companies are doing?!

Each and every company should not be compared to each other in order to evaluate how ethical their working environments are, but instead compared against what is decided to be the basic level of humane and moral working conditions.

Now I understand the issue with this; every country has a different poverty level and a different perception of what it means to be poor. $1.50 sounds great to these workers. So I suggest just a different way of looking at it.

We have entered the globalized age. We have to compare wages and conditions on a global scale. There needs to be a poverty level decided for everyone. Now this is still years in the making, but eventually our lives and economies will be even more so interconnected across the globe that it will be more reasonable to do this. Borders will merge and culture will become homogenous.

Apple is doing what makes fiscal sense to them. Cheap labor making cheap products sold for high profit margins makes a great business plan. I can't blame them for that. But we live in a world that is becoming more and more globalized, and therefore we all have to some extent a responsibility for the livelihood of the people in these nations. Not to the extent of what Americas done in the past (war, spread democracy, etc. all very bad), but because of the conditions we have to be thankful for we also have a higher responsibility to make sure that we aren't taking advantage of these countries, but instead we should try to share our wealth with them (not our politics). There is a very large problem in the world today because of these international companies not having to adhere to any individual country's law. They are taking advantage of the system and becoming far to powerful because they are not regulated. Apple is guilty of this. Many others are guilty of this. It smart in a business sense, but that doesn't mean it isn't wrong. (That also doesn't mean that Apple is the MOST guilty of this, and perhaps it is unfair that the finger is pointed at them, but the fact that they are guilty is enough)

I have no interest to spread the wealth of this nation over my own country men first and foremost, nor should any nation be economically interconnected. How has a global economy helped the world? It has only helped the top one percent.

 

[jackc]

How has a global economy helped the world?

By making it richer. It's the same reason why you trade with people outside of your house.

 

[jhende7]

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Because a poor worker can't buy a house, it's slave labor? Get real.

It's a state of mind. Humans should always have the hope that they can better their own life through hard work. That's exactly why there are so many workers at the ready for Foxconn. But that hope quickly fades away when they are stuck in these living conditions.

If you were essentially stuck in a dorm with suicide nets installed outside the windows, wouldn't you feel a bit stuck, or like a slave?

You Foxconn sympathizes sicken me. Your complete ignorance of the subject at hand is the most appealing part. Suicide nets outside their dorms? The prestieges university I attended had locked windows on the third floor and higher because of suicides. Many office building also have locked windows in corne offices where people are making six figure salaries. These peoples working conditions have nothing to do with the matter.

 

[darkplanets]

There was never a large number of suicides. The suicide rate of Foxconn workers is below that of China.

Don't try and use logic... people won't listen. Whatever "atrocities" Foxconn commits is on Foxconn and China (aka the government), not Apple per se. I dislike how everyone wants to be the world police. It's also likely that those conditions are much better than their competitors given Apple's large profit margins.

Suicide nets are nothing new... observe any city and you'll find locked windows. Observe colleges with cliffs, etc (say Ithica in NY) and you'll find nets. It doesn't have to do with the environment (Ithica is a nice place tbh), it has to do with people being people.

Also, the comments about forced labor is laughable, at best. They're not slaves. They can leave at any time. Have you seen the hiring lines? Money is money, and that talks the most-- most people will work hard to maximize personal gains.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by Michaelgtrusa
They are forced to work long hours.


In the same sense that every salaried worker is forced to work long hours?

Again, see if they thank you if you try to save them from their job.

My one factory job had mandatory overtime three months before Christmas. That was to compensate for all the orders during the holidays.

I suspect almost any company that puts out a non-consumable product will work long hours during the holidays or when appropriate to keep up with the demand.

Now as I am looking for a new job, EVERY job application I filled out it mentions possible overtime & working on holidays and weekends.

So nothing new here.

 

[marksman]

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Lol at nightline trying to turn this into a personal interview with the CEO of the largest company in the world. Even funnier asking to interview ivey.

 

[AppleTart]

Glad to see you care more about chickens than people. There hasn't been a large number of humans committing suicide at chicken farms.

I hope Nightline talks about the quality of life. Making $1.78 an hour seems about right, but how are they living?

Are you comparing their hourly rate with your Country ? I think so.
What is the average hourly rate in THEIR Country?
Did certain people over THEIR go to School and get a Degree, to be paid this small amount? I think not.

Working the line. That's what they do. I'm sure there are FAR WORSE employers in THEIR Country with FAR WORSE pay and conditions.

Get over it.
AT.

 

[marksman]

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There are more Apple haters than chicken farms haters

Interesting that you should class any person who finds slave labour/exploitation abhorrent as an 'Apple hater'. Maybe you are one of these Steve Jobs worshipping 'fanboys' I keep hearing about. Remember these things are just pretty shiny gadgets...nothing more...a mobile telephone and a small computer - that's all they are. The people who make them are real human beings like you and me. They deserve to be treated better that $1.50 an hour.

By your distorted world view there are two billion slaves in china.

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No one is blaming Apple, but if Apple knows what's going on and still contracts Foxconn then it is a major concern for Apple buyers, stock holders and so forth. They are the most popular tech company, and that title will come with more responsibility in human rights and the environment.

There wasn't this attention on Dell, HP, IBM, or any other manufacturer and still isn't when it should be on the industry as a whole, not one company.

Nightline is smart. It is tv sweeps and they are targeting a company who will automatically draw all kinds of attention for their show. It is a calculated ratings grab and has nothing to do with uncovering the truth or helping Chinese workers.

It is February and nightline wants viewers. Apple gives them viewers.

 

[StrudelTurnover]

There wasn't this attention on Dell, HP, IBM, or any other manufacturer and still isn't when it should be on the industry as a whole, not one company.

I agree, but the point is that Apple is in the spotlight, and Apple made the invitation for good PR. Microsoft uses Foxconn for making Xboxes, but why would they make the effort to draw attention to that when Apple can take the hit? Arguably Apple is the bigger customer.

The opening Nightline blurb where they simultaneously praise Apple products and claim that nobody else has been inside Foxconn to report is simply pathetic. Nightline producers understand how people act when there are visible cameras. They understand the difference between journalism and a publicity stunt. At least they used to. I don't watch network TV anymore.

 

[marksman]

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I have to say, knowing how much Apple charges for their products, I am disgusted that they hire w/ a company like Foxconn that only pays it's employes $1.50 an hour. As much as I enjoy my Apple products, it makes me think twice about buying another.
People here would be even more excited about Apple as a company if they knew that the products were made right here in the USA. It would certainly help our economy too.


Made in the USA

Looks awesome and has a great ring to it.

Apple would go out of business and 10s of thousands of American and Chinese people would be unemployed.

Sounds like a great business plan you have.

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This should be American employees. (I know the cost argument..just saying...) What was the last Apple product that was assembled in the USA?

I thought it was more of a labor issue, that is, you couldn't find enough Americans willing to assemble iPads to satisfy demand. At least that's what the Wall Street Journal or one of those papers published a while back...

What is funny is people here don't mind companies in the us putting factories in rural areas so they can pay employees less. People in NYC want those jobs in Alabama and the company should pay 22 an hour in NYC instead of 10 in Alabama.

However when companies do the same thing on a global level it is inhumane

 

[BiscottiGelato]

Yet Samsung has had no problem finding the workforce in the USA to create the core of the ipad and iphone. Steve Job's said jobs weren't gonna come back because he no longer wants to pay for it since China can do an acceptable job for pennies on the dollar. Steve Job's had been courting Pres. Obama since 2008 to try and get the US to have another tax holiday for stingy coporations, that happen in 05/06 and what happened, no jobs, no investment no nothing, just a massive buyback of stocks for the Board of Directors with there money that was parked offshore to evade paying taxes. Its funny my Mac from 2005 was Assembled in the USA, I wonder how they were able to afford to do that with only a fraction of the cash they have now.

If you can't distinguish between board level factories and fab, then maybe you should stay off this topic. If there is enough confidence in building cutting edge fabs in China en-mass, then it's the official final nail in the coffin for the US of A. And dont' get me wrong, these cutting edge tech and high paid jobs will be going to China sooner rather than later for the exact reason that Jobs have said; China is chewing out more and better tech personell everyday. In fact I already have many co-workers (many caucasians even) going to China from the US to lead up management and architect positions in Chinese firms, bringing up design and fab capacities in China.

Look at how much a typical computer costs in 2005 vs now.... Then you'll know why.

 

[drorpheus]

If you can't distinguish between board level factories and fab, then maybe you should stay off this topic. If there is enough confidence in building cutting edge fabs in China en-mass, then it's the official final nail in the coffin for the US of A. And dont' get me wrong, these cutting edge tech and high paid jobs will be going to China sooner rather than later for the exact reason that Jobs have said; China is chewing out more and better tech personell everyday. In fact I already have many co-workers (many caucasians even) going to China from the US to lead up management and architect positions in Chinese firms, bringing up design and fab capacities in China.

Look at how much a typical computer costs in 2005 vs now.... Then you'll know why.

yeah ok dude, the reason they use china is not because its cutting edge asshat, its because labor is dirt cheap, they're a communist nation that barely has running water you think they care how much mecury they kick out into rivers?thats why apple uses foxconn. and awesome for your company maybe one day you can pack up and move to china since its the only future. Sadly your corporate worship missed the fact that the 2005 Mac assembled in the USA cost less than todays comparable assembled in china model, it didnt bring one penny in cost down, it enabled apple to sell you a cheaper product at a higher cost, allowing them to make more money and make you feel is if you got the same quality product.