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Apple 'Independently Evaluating' Foxconn's Response to Suicides at Manufacturing Plant
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Nearly all of the manufacturers who use Foxcom as a sub-contractor do not have any say in how the manufacturer operates. Apple (and possible HP) do require some standards for worker conditions, so do have some level of power to effect adherence.
From photos I've seen of the working conditions, the factory is exceptionally clean and modern. Not the idea of "sweat shop" in any stretch of the imagination. However, many employees are hundreds of miles from family and immersed in a work and living environment that is unfamiliar. So, I can see how stressful that can be for some.
In the late 1960s I was in training at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. The annual suicide rate among students there was much higher then at this factory. Being uprooted from one's hometown and family, while feeling your life is being directed by others in power, is something that eats some people up if left unmonitored.
Yes we should but this is the year of "let's bash Apple".
I think what made this come to life was the lost iPhone, Apples silence on the matter, and Apples Chinese Government Like management styles. Apple dug its own grave with this issue.
but....
24x7 = 168.
They are working so many hours that they spend the vast majority of their time there. If they work 40 hours per week plus 80 hours overtime a week, then they are literally spending just 48 hours outside of work. This is when they sleep.
They do it at work because its the only time to do it.
24x7 = 168.
They are working so many hours that they spend the vast majority of their time there. If they work 40 hours per week plus 80 hours overtime a week, then they are literally spending just 48 hours outside of work. This is when they sleep.
They do it at work because its the only time to do it.
Precisely the point! I found so many people on this forum are incredibly naive assuming that Apple doesn't know the working conditions in their manufactory sites, or has the sincere will of improving it. The truth is Apple, and as a matter of fact US, know it all too well, but they, to be honest, can do pretty much nothing. In fact, they go there precisely to circumvent the labor protection rules and the high labor cost seen in US. But then you can't blame them either because that's the only way Americans can still get the gadgets they want at an affordable price, and the companies, such as Apple, can still make a profit after paying their employees here in US the salaries above the American standard. If they actually "bring the jobs" back to US, all labors are to be paid at least 10 times more and the whole business mode just won't sustain. That's how capitalism works, unfortunately. Until there are more places to outsourcing the jobs, such as India and Africa after the Chinese are getting richer and demanding better pay, American can still enjoy their life for a while.
Point taken. But still, if their entire life is work-related then so is their suicides.
It's an odd sensation now looking at the some of the old computers in my signature and seeing the 'Made in the USA' labels on them. Ah, there was a time when that label meant good stuff. Still does in a way, Harley Davidson for instance.
China's basically artificially keeping their currency at unrealistic low levels. If they floated the Yuan, it would shoot up overnight like a rocket making their exports much more expensive and manufactureres in other countries would instantly be on a more even playing field. I think.
yes, it's a TW company, the latest news is, they are going to build a big net, size at 120 standard swimming pool to catch ppl who jumped from the buildings.....
yes, i don't like chinese gov, i'm a chinese who lives in Hong Kong, we are struggling hard to maintain our freedom, to have basic human rights like u ppl do, but chinese gov is taking away from us.... i gotta stop b4 going too far
I am sorry but where was your "human rights" under the British rule when HK people were not allowed to elect there governor directly or indirectly? When HK people didn't have the ultimate judicial power and the British government, to which HK people had zero say, controlled those all? Your mind is so cornered in your imagination.
I don't need to imagine... I bought many Apple products when they were still being manufactured in the U.S. and I paid around $2500 each for a 128k Mac, a Mac Plus, a Mac SE, a Mac II, a Mac 6100, a Laser Writer IIg, etc....
The current prices for Asian-made electronics is like a heavenly dream.
which also means companies such as Apple, or the tw manufacturing company Foxconn, would immediately move their factories elsewhere such as India so that they can keep the cost under control. Is there any real difference at all, other than that the Chinese are out? Do you really think Apple would bring the jobs back to US when there are at least a billion people out there who are more than happy being paid $2/hr?
The assembly cost per iPhone is quite low, under $10 I believe.
The wages in America are a lot higher though, and the hours worked, fewer, and the benefits higher, but workers don't get dormitories.
At some point automation becomes cheaper, so instead of 400,000 Chinese you have 100,000 US + a lot of machines.
And 400,000 * multiple assembly companies Chinese out of work.
If so, why don't they just hire 100,000 Chinese+a lot of machines? Machines are much easier to move than people. Think more carefully. In fact, that already happened. Most machines in Chinese factories, at least at the initial stage, were shipped there from abroad. And the manufactories in China these days are actually quite modern, if you google some pictures of Foxconn.
In the U.S., we would consider MANY companies in China Sweatshops. They have the entire family live at the factory, and have something for every family member to do. In China, a lot of people consider this a good way of living since the company takes care of everything. Oh, well.
That's because it works much better for them if comparing farming in some rural area.
I read a news said the workers work six days a week. They are encouraged to work three hours overtime a day. This makes sixty six hours a week.
Something along the lines of...
Chinese assembly employee = ~$250 a month (barely living wage) (900 yuan ($132) basic + overtime)
Assembly machine = ~$1000 a month (amortised cost over lifetime, repairs, etc).
US assembly employee = ~$3000 a month.
clearly we have different points, and i'm still very tired asking ppl to vote for the referendum 2 weeks ago, i surrender in discussing this with u, sorry, i hope u are happy living in yr land and don't forget those are struggling...
What makes you think that the suicide rate of 400K factory workers doing similar work in a typical U.S. big city would be significantly lower?
In exchange, the environmental impact on the planet of this way of life is a lot lower when compared with the typical U.S. suburban lifestyle. Choose your carbon footprint.
While this is true, people in North Korea also think Kim Jong Il is from heaven and North Korea is cutting edge. People in China are blocked from a lot of the outside world and don't know much more than what the government feeds them, IE try asking younger people about the Masacre at Tiananmen Square. They probably have no clue about it because the government has wiped away any evidence it happened.
You're right about the work ethic. Some of these people apparently work 7 days a week. How long can you really take that for? We all need some type of a work/life balance to function properly.
Very true. Image or conscience. Apple goes and make changes. They got called out by Greenpeace on eWaste. So in comes less packing, "greener" tech & more recyclable components. Fewer user replaceable batteries. Now, it is getting called out for deaths at Foxconn, again. So time to make more changes. Since Apple has the media's attention 24x7, easier to scrutinize every move it or its suppliers make.
In other semi-related news, HP, Dell and Apple are among the first American companies to support Senator Brownback's conflict minerals bill currently in in committee in the US Congress. So a littel progress...still a long way to go.