Despite recent comments by a Foxconn spokesperson that Apple had already investigated and found no problems with the Chinese factory that has come to be known as
"iPod City," BusinessWeek is reporting that the probe is still in fact underway, with an Apple representative reiterating that the company takes "allegations of noncompliance very seriously." According to spokesperson Steve Dowling,
Apple is in the midst of a "thorough audit" of the Hon Hai-owned plant, which had recently
admitted to breaking labor laws concerning overtime, but which continues to
deny other allegations contained in the original Daily Mail exposé. Specifically, Dowling says that the auditors are looking into "employee working and living conditions," conducting interviews with workers and their managers (separately, we hope), and generally making sure that the factory lives up to a supplier code of conduct that supposedly "sets the bar higher than accepted industry standards." This is all very good news indeed, but now Apple faces yet another hurdle in the form of a jaded public highly skeptical of corporate-speak, meaning that whether the investigation turns up violations or not, the company may still have a hard time convincing folks to accept the auditors' final verdict.
[Via
AppleInsider, image courtesy of
Mail on Sunday]
posted June 30th 2006 7:07PM
Besides breaking Labor laws if I was Apple I'd be worried they are substituting Inferior Parts in the manufacturing process...
A friend who makes Gaming Accessories had that problem with a Chinese Manufacturer and the 1st 3 times they sent Factory Demo Models they substituted cheaper components and the units didn't work right... He ended up spending a few weeks at the Factory straightening them out on how the parts he specified had to be used and under no circumstances could this be deviated from...
Guess he could have made them here at 4 to 5 times the cost and no margin for profit...
Ahhh the wonders of the business world... hehe
"if I was Apple I'd be worried they are substituting Inferior Parts in the manufacturing process..."
What makes you think there isn't already a program in place to periodically dissect and inspect goods from the factory?
Besides, there is a huge difference between *specifying* parts to be used and *procuring* them and having them sent to the factory -- then making sure when the manufacturing line is inspected that those components were being used.
Although I'm glad that somebody has brought to light poor labor practices, I hope Apple doesn't take the easy way out by simply pulling out of this factory (a la Nike). In situations like this, even when the working conditions are bad, they're often the only source of work available for at least some of the employees. It's possible that Apple could solve it's public relations problem by pulling out, and this could solve the working conditions problem in a way. The employees wouldn't have to suffer such terrible work conditions, but on the other hand, they wouldn't be able to work. Here's for hoping they continue operating the factory but with much more oversight. Of course, there might be better ways of handling it.
Actually, they get it pretty good as far as Chinese factories are. At least they get paid THE MINIMUM WAGE, something that most factory operators lie to the employess about. Most would be lucky to get paid for the three month 'probationary' period of work they do before getting a contract worth dirt and the employer won't even honour anyway. THIS is why unions are important, they prevent every singe employer of engaging in a 'race to the botton' where the person who is most desperate for the job will agree to lower pay to get it, thus setting the standard for everyone else until the next desperate person accepts even lower pay. It's happening right now in Australia because of the new laws that lets employers give a contract to the person who accepts the lowest pay, usually the person who has just been fired without a reason (which the new laws now permit). The unions are the only ones fighting against the new laws for us. I heard that Canadas new conservative prime minister would like to copy the laws, so Canadians better start fighting them now! The US has had these laws for a decade now, so its a bit late for you, as can be attested to by your 'working poor' underclass whos two, three or four part time jobs (the only ones they can get) get paid less than what it takes to live.
So as you enjoy your new 'Made In China' television from Wal-Mart, stop to think that the internationally illegal low rates of pay of the workers who made it at such a 'reasonable' price will eventually force YOUR wages down. And in actual fact, there are very few industry sectors that won't be effected as the trickle down effect will get middle management just as it gets the consumer electronics factory worker.
Moral of the story:
1. Stop bashing unions, you wouldn't be getting paid as much and have as many rights if it wasn't fo them
2. Buy products made in your country!
Michael wrote:
"It's possible that Apple could solve it's public relations problem by pulling out, and this could solve the working conditions problem in a way."
Who said this is a "public relations problem"? The initial report on this issue was published by an English paper that is known for its yellow journalism and lack of respect for facts. But everyone is accepting the story as true and running with it.
For instance, the paper claimed there were 200,000 people in this "sweat shop." Hon Hai stated the next day that their entire company only employs 160,000. The alleged sweat shop is just one of many factories Hon Hai has.
Props to Michael, I think you're dead on. We need for more companies to take proactive rather than reactive measures to deminish the kind of problems we're seeing here. I'm very glad Apple is doing something (and I hope they'll continue) but most tech factories are run under bad conditions, and it's a problem that it will take negative publicity for each company to reassess it's production process.
Any Apple hater who's ever bought something made in China shouldn't chuckle too loud. Do you think the people who make your $6 tee shirt from Walmart get paid $10 an hour?
I think it's pretty sad that it takes a corporate giant to give labor law issues some spotlight...it's not just Apple products people!
Anything reported by a British newspaper is suspious; newspapers in England will print vague information – perhaps planted by any number of companies trying to knockoff the i-pod from its number 1# position. What international company, especially in the hi-tech business, isn’t vulnerable to such accusations…?
It makes Guantanamo Bay look like Disney Land.
rent Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price and it'll open up your eyes a bit. The big boffo doesn't start in China it starts here. I've been through HK and China and seen an array of factories. Nothing will be up to our standards, but most of us are speaking from locations of reasonable comfort. There are more than enough places right here that can put China dorms to shame. That said, show me what you've got that's made here - or something that if you had the choice you'd buy form here - and Japanese and German cars don't count. Some of our labor force isn't all that far apart from the Asian world in terms of business practice and manufacture. Coming down on Apple is just the flavor of the month right now. Anyone's who's had success in business is always in the sites of someone out to bring them down - even if its at the expense of the whole industry.
OOooOOOOoooOOOHHH....So this is where all the Over Priced - Lil shinny Apple Products are Made..Hmmmm Wonder is this Could Hurt ipod Sales "At all"?..
I wonder how Much they would Cost if Apple Products were Made in America?.. Poor Apple Getting Caught with there hand in the Cookie Jar.. Ummm Fortune Cookie..
Chinnese Food Anyone?...
Given the only fact that we can be sure of, that the source of this report is the Daily Mail, the chances that Apple did wrong here are actually lower than they were before anything was reported. Of all the UK papers, the Daily Mail are the most ham-fisted bile-filled filth-mongers. They have the reputation to do ANY to print with copy that sells. The Sun is world-famous for over-blowing stories. The Daily Mail never needed a story to blow over in in the first place.
aboriginal,
"There are more than enough places right here that can put China dorms to shame."
I haven't heard or seen anything to make me think that...
I agree, the documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" is a dusturbing eye-opener, I've seen it a couple of times.
The American (BIG) government did some great things at the beginning of the centry to improve the lives of its people. Fail Labour Standards Act creating minimum wage, rural electrification and public works in the Great Depression.
http://dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/flsa1938.htm
Who knows, in the coming years after China devours all of the manufacturing jobs from the west maybe they'll enact their own FLSA act.
Never, ever believe anything printed in the Daily Mail. They have never shown even a shred of concern for poor working people before, and certainly not poor foreign (ie. non-british, non-white) working people. This story stinks.
Apple have had quite a bit of good press, lately. That's all the reason a scum-rag like the Mail would need to start throwing shit at them.