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Unless Foxconn are swallowing the extra costs involved in potentially hiring more staff to cover the shortfall in man hours, it's the companies with already razor thin profit margins who I feel sorry for the most. Apple are at least in the position to simply assume any increase in labour/contract costs. The cynic in me would suggest this was Apple's ploy all along; look like the good guys by inviting the FLA in, pay whatever extra required in labour/contract costs, and price your competitors out of the business as a result of these increases.

I think you're partially right here. I personally believe Cook may indeed be an ethical person and now that Jobs isn't calling the shots......
 
Unless Foxconn are swallowing the extra costs involved in potentially hiring more staff to cover the shortfall in man hours, it's the companies with already razor thin profit margins who I feel sorry for the most. Apple are at least in the position to simply assume any increase in labour/contract costs. The cynic in me would suggest this was Apple's ploy all along; look like the good guys by inviting the FLA in, pay whatever extra required in labour/contract costs, and price your competitors out of the business as a result of these increases.

The cynic in you is very smart. :)
 
those Brazilian factories cant open soon enough

for those whining about Apple using Chinese labor

please show me a company that "doesn't"

every single damned thing you people buy (for a huge mark up) is made over there :D

at least Apple is reforming, hiring, and paying better

you don't see that coming from the fashion, food, raw material industries?
 
Seriously? You've already paid 600+, what's another 100-200 to you? Just put it on your credit card. If you want the product produced at the rate it's currently at, and the quality, you pay the price.

We pay large amounts for homes, cars, furniture, etc. so it could be argued that in fact products like the iPhone and iPad are more of a necessity.. and if you need it, as opposed to "want it", might as well pay for it.

"Just put it on your credit card." Are you for real? That's exactly the kind of attitude that has us in this economic mess.

IMO if Apple's production costs will increase, they might as well move jobs back to America.
 
"Just put it on your credit card." Are you for real? That's exactly the kind of attitude that has us in this economic mess.

IMO if Apple's production costs will increase, they might as well move jobs back to America.

I think we're a long way off that being the case. The Chinese workers would probably be millionaires before it would be viable to bring jobs back to the US!
 
And as we all know apple's margins are way too low to give....:cool:

The real question is whether this cause stock to go up, down, or remain put?

Personally, I own none right now (nor have I ever owned any stock from any company ever), so my question is an innocent one. (I anticipate massive down votes without this disclaimer.)

I applaud them for striving for improved working conditions. More and more, it's looking like China is the place to live these days.
 
spare me the ethics crap spin

Methink Apple decide now to address and to lay rest these persistent labor issues thats been ongoing for years to burnish their corporate image with Chinese consumers/market and government now that China is their second biggest and fastest growing market and hoping to propel their stock to $1000...
 
I think we're a long way off that being the case. The Chinese workers would probably be millionaires before it would be viable to bring jobs back to the US!

I doubt that simply because there are much more people in China than in USA, so in USA there is less competition between workers and wages are higher.

But we'll certainly see losses in buying power of americans. This can be easily compensated by a less consumerist society. We don't need buying every s*** that is offered to us. We just need some food, some entertainment, some love, some travels and some rest. All the rest can be compensated with psychotherapy.
 
While this is good, don't be surprised (or complain) when the price of your Apple gear starts to go up! Something has to give.

The New York Times estimated an iPhone would cost $65 more if made in the USA and I , for one, would be much happier paying 65 bux more for that...

Foxconn emply 120,000 workers, plus all the suppliers which double that easily, and whilst I have nothing against them personally I simply don't understand why Apple refuses to make products in the USA...

Kevin
 
Seems to me like we could agree that mandatory (or compulsory) overtime is an evil... but what about voluntary overtime?

If you really want to work 80 hours a week because you want / need the extra money... are we really doing you a favor saying you can't?

What's important is that you can't be fired or otherwise passed over due to NOT working overtime... But overtime (even lots of it) seems to be a personal value (or not)...

Agreed. I can tell you from personal experience that it is very nice to have the option to work OT to earn some extra money.

Voluntary OT = good.

Forced OT = bad.
 
What does iPad cost and less than $1 /hr have to do with anything? Apple don't own Foxconn, Foxconn is a supplier to ALL the electronic companies. Have they all agree to raise they hr wage to Chinese workers too? or should this be just Apple issue?

The cost of living is different in China than the US. etc.. etc.. read and understand how the world really is, Foxconn have hundreds and thousands of workers standing inline applying for job at each job fair, if you think these better options elsewhere, please advice.

Your argument doesn't explain why not saying OMG.

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Agreed. I can tell you from personal experience that it is very nice to have the option to work OT to earn some extra money.

Voluntary OT = good.

Forced OT = bad.

Forced OT = working to get the minimum money for living.
 
The New York Times estimated an iPhone would cost $65 more if made in the USA and I , for one, would be much happier paying 65 bux more for that...

Foxconn emply 120,000 workers, plus all the suppliers which double that easily, and whilst I have nothing against them personally I simply don't understand why Apple refuses to make products in the USA...

Kevin

Maybe because Samsung could offer a $65 cheaper competitor?

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I must be missing something. So Foxconn is forcing these people to work there? :D

Forcing is similar to offering when you have no choice.
 
In other news, the iPhone engineering team released the following statement:
"60 hours a week during peak times? And they get paid for every extra half hour? F this! We're moving to China!"


Hours worked is irrelevant, the question is how they're being compensated relative to the regional median for the work they do.
 
Now that I'm long Apple again, this'll cost me a few thousands in the short run, but i have to say - i love it. Hardly enough, but certainly a step in the right direction.
 
Apple's cost will go up a hair, but so will everyone else's. Not a competitive disadvantage. They will probably someday build in every region just like the automakers do.
 
Every time I hear about labor unions in communist countries, I chuckle a little at the irony.

Every time I hear Civil Liberty Union in democratic countries, I chuckle a little at the irony.
 
In other news, the iPhone engineering team released the following statement:
"60 hours a week during peak times? And they get paid for every extra half hour? F this! We're moving to China!"


Hours worked is irrelevant, the question is how they're being compensated relative to the regional median for the work they do.

Hours worked is irrelevant[2]

Suppose you get $50 per week for 40h.
Then you work 60h and get $75 a week.
You would get up to $300 monthly by working 240h. That's a big deal, no?
 
Agreed. I can tell you from personal experience that it is very nice to have the option to work OT to earn some extra money.

Voluntary OT = good.
Forced OT = bad.

Especially those Foxconn workers. They are largely migrant workers who cares to gain the maximum earning for the time they spend out working. Many of the girls are working up a saving for their future marriage. The earlier they can save up, the earlier they'll return home home to continue their life.
 
lmao smartest comment of the day so far.
Who cares, they can give them 300% increase in overtime pay but the government
will find a reason to take it back. In which case they don't NEED a reason. "Better dead than red"

Yeah, communism is retarded.
 
Hours worked is irrelevant[2]

Suppose you get $50 per week for 40h.
Then you work 60h and get $75 a week.
You would get up to $300 monthly by working 240h. That's a big deal, no?

It's only bad if one is spoilt by standards prevalent in developed nations. If that extra $25 double from overtime equates to the same or more earning as what the workers used to earn in a year back on their farm, then the perspective has suddenly changed. Then those extra 20h is a God send if they have the opportunity to capture it.

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Yeah, communism is retarded.

And the so called "leader of the free world" with a "democratic" system brought us an illegal war over Iraq with thens of thousand of innocent deaths.
 
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