Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Foxconn assembly-line workers will make as much as $400 a month, based on location and passing a probationary period. That's for 160 working hours a month, so the hourly pay is about $2.50.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nvmls and pallymore
Exactly, very well underlined.



"It's just talking (in the article). PR news. If apple would really want to cut down on forced overtime exploiting labor it would move the iPhone's production in the U.S. but the prices will greatly increase."

Got it. Yea, that would obviously be a terrible business move and shareholders/consumers would never allow it. Plus, the US does not have the labor needed for these types of jobs. The whole idea that Apple can just flip a switch and bring their production into the US is a joke. It's impossible. The entitled people in the US would never take these jobs and certainly couldn't execute them.
 
Unfortunately this practice is not limited by any means to Apple products.

I never implied that it was. Was just calling out somebody for being hypocritical. You know the kind of person that wants cheaper iPhones and cries about it and then gets outraged about this on forums.
 
True, but Apple can start to supplement Chinese production and slowly expand its capabilities. Apple will always need overseas plants but domestic plants could certainly help with supply constraints.

I don't think you understand and appreciate the scope and sheer size of Hon Hai's (Foxconn) and others' infrastructure and workforce - even for dealing with "constraints." Constraints are best dealt with by managed delays - when needed.

OTOH, I'm sure everyone here would embrace and willingly agree to pay much higher prices for iPhones and other tech in order to develop and employ that infrastructure - even if it could be done.
 
Last edited:
You must not own a pair of Nike's.

Is that relevant?

There can be moral production and consumerism, and it's a double standard.

Glad to see the original person you quoted cared enough that ethical production makes a difference.
 
They dont care but they have to make it *appear* they care. Its all about pleasing the shareholders. If Apple really cared they'd build all this stuff here with American labor and pay them decent wages/benefits. But, clearly thats not an option. The eleventy-million-trillion in profit they pocket like every week just isnt quite enough.

And Im pro-capitalism too but this kind of stuff is NOT OK with me.

Bringing all of their manufacturing to the US isn't an option no matter what the reason behind it. We do not have the skilled labor in order to execute on this type of manufacturing. The people who would take these jobs do not have the best education and would be expecting wages too high for it to be feasible for shareholders and consumers. It would ruin the company from a quality perspective and cost perspective.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I feel bad for Apple in this as I don't think they are wanting these types of things to happen, they seem to apply a lot of effort in HR & environmental areas.
 
Got it. Yea, that would obviously be a terrible business move and shareholders/consumers would never allow it. Plus, the US does not have the labor needed for these types of jobs. The whole idea that Apple can just flip a switch and bring their production into the US is a joke. It's impossible. The entitled people in the US would never take these jobs and certainly couldn't execute them.

Yea. I think eventually they might bring the jobs back to the US - and that'll be when they have automated everything.

Also it is just not the labor cost problem - China is close to many of the manufactures who produces chips and screens for Apple (Taiwan, Korea, Japan, etc.). Shipping those to the US will be much more expensive comparing to shipping those parts to China.
 
Is that relevant?

There can be moral production and consumerism, and it's a double standard.

Glad to see the original person you quoted cared enough that ethical production makes a difference.
Well you're telling me there can be a moral part to consumerism and talking about ethical practices - So I am saying, you must not own a pair of Nike's. If you really care about these things, and these practices impact your buying decisions.. I question how much they really matter if you or anyone making a big deal out of this owns a pair of Nike's. Are we holding Apple to a higher standard then Nike? Shouldn't this be across the board if this is something that matters to you?
 
  • Like
Reactions: qtx43
That's a no brainer. Of course it's happening but Apple will be the BIG Brother and take care of it.
 
This needs to immediately be resolved; when I buy a product from Apple, I want to know that it was made with decency.

Apple could start selling a "Made with Decency" line of their products (with minimum 25% price increase). They could include a photo and brief personal story of the person who put together the Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc. The person who put it together could also sign it (or the product box) like how Mercedes-AMG engines have a signature plate on them.

Hand assembled with decency by ___________
 
Last edited:
Bringing all of their manufacturing to the US isn't an option no matter what the reason behind it. We do not have the skilled labor in order to execute on this type of manufacturing. The people who would take these jobs do not have the best education and would be expecting wages too high for it to be feasible for shareholders and consumers. It would ruin the company from a quality perspective and cost perspective.
Dude. Do not get offended.
But your post history speaks loudly of always being blinded by typical Apple tribalism.
On the subject of final assembly and post-production, I remind you that we do have car assembly plants in the US. Most with ever-growing local US content. And, showing final quality and diverse inventories indistinguishable from foreign assembled units.

I do understand the different order of magnitude.

But Apple's stringent negotiated price schedules, imposed onto the foreign producers and their assembly plants ("put on your long-pants and sign up"), lead inevitably to cost-saving, eventually slave labor, because those same producers need to show profit against a pre-negotiated ceiling.

What trouble people, like me, is not Apple's hard-negotiating tactics, but the faked-surprise that those same manufacturers need to cut corners to show profit.

Just my view.
 
Yea. I think eventually they might bring the jobs back to the US - and that'll be when they have automated everything.

Also it is just not the labor cost problem - China is close to many of the manufactures who produces chips and screens for Apple (Taiwan, Korea, Japan, etc.). Shipping those to the US will be much more expensive comparing to shipping those parts to China.

All good points. Automation will definitely help in this area, which is not going to help drive a ton more jobs. In the end, it will be more expensive for consumers and would clearly be rejected by both them and the shareholders of the company. Just because our dummy President shouts out that jobs should be brought to the US, doesn't mean it is actually feasible. Unfortunately we have a lot of people that just hear that and spout it back out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pallymore
I don't think you understand and appreciate the scope and sheer size of Hon Hai's (Foxconn) and others' infrastructure and workforce - even for dealing with "constraints." Constraints are best dealt with by managed delays - when needed.

OTOH, I'm sure everyone here would embrace and willingly agree to pay much higher prices for iPhones and other tech in order to develop and employ that infrastructure - even if it could be done.

Of course it can be done. You make it sound as if it's absolutely impossible for there to be domestic tech manufacturing in the U.S. There just needs to be a willingness to make it happen.

Scaring people with threats that their iPhones will get even more expensive because a small fraction of them would be produced domestically is ridiculous. China would continue to make the majority of Apple devices.

Apple somehow pays retail store staff in the U.S without doubling the price of iPhones. There are 10 stores in NYC alone in very, very expensive real estate all staffed with employees who receive a decent wage and benefits.
 
Apple will be angry. They probably assumed all the labour was forced, but now it appears only some are. What an outrage. Tim will do another softball interview to talk about the stress of 'coming out' to deflect people who might criticise.
[doublepost=1540826991][/doublepost]
This needs to immediately be resolved; when I buy a product from Apple, I want to know that it was made with decency.

LOL. You must be pretty naive. Why do you think China is chosen to build modern tech? It isn't for their high wages and human rights - or did you think Communist China was somehow different in the 21st Century?
 
Because the current product line lacks something called moral ethics.
Who cares? The product is still great. What do you care about something happening to people you've never met and will never meet?
 
Yea. I think eventually they might bring the jobs back to the US - and that'll be when they have automated everything.

I think this is an American dream.

Realistically, I highly doubt Apple will bring jobs back simply because the cost for the supply chain will increase dramatically. In addition, China already has a lot of automation in factories. There is a reason why U.S. tech companies go with China for this. They already have this infrastructure set up.
 
Dude. Do not get offended.
But your post history speaks loudly of always being blinded by typical Apple tribalism.
On the subject of final assembly and post-production, I remind you that we do have car assembly plants in the US. Most with ever-growing local US content. And, showing final quality and diverse inventories indistinguishable from foreign assembled units.

I do understand the different order of magnitude.

But Apple's stringent negotiated price schedules, imposed onto the foreign producers and their assembly plants ("put on your long-pants and sign up"), lead inevitably to cost-saving, eventually slave labor, because those same producers need to show profit against a pre-negotiated ceiling.

What trouble people, like me, is not Apple's hard-negotiating tactics, but the faked-surprise that those same manufacturers need to cut corners to show profit.

Just my view.

Not offended at all, it's just not possible currently.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.