'Nightline' report on Apple production line shows iPhone is basically handmade
ABC's Nightline special episode on Apple's production line offered an inside look at the company's supply chain but revealed few surprises, though it did show that the iPhone, with 141 separate steps that go into its production, is practically a handmade device.
Apple granted reporter Bill Weir permission to go inside Foxconn's factories to see the working conditions as its products were being made for the 30-minute broadcast. However, initial response to the story was that it revealed hardly anything new about the situation.
The Verge put together a list of the most interesting facts from the show, noting that perhaps the most interesting revelation was that a Foxconn executive said the manufacturer would welcome demands from Apple to double pay for its workers.
The report also noted that an iPhone takes 141 steps to make, while an iPad takes five days and passes through 325 hands during production. Foxconn manages to produce 300,000 camera modules for the iPad daily.
Workers at the manufacturer pay for their own food, roughly $0.70 per meal, and pay $17.50 a month to share a company dorm room with five to seven others. Wages were apparently $1.78 an hour and new workers were required to go through three days of training and "team building" exercises before starting work.
Weir also interviewed Fair Labor Association president Auret van Heerden. According to him, Apple paid $250,000 to join the association and is also paying for the audit of Foxconn's facilities. The iPad maker announced last month that it was the first technology company to join the FLA. The association began its first inspections last week, with van Heerden noting that Foxconn's facilities are "first class" and "way above" the norm.
Foxconn workers file down the Apple logo on an iPad component. | Credit: Almin Karamehmedovic/ABC News
Days before the show aired, Nightline and Weir promised viewers a "fascinating look into a hidden corner of our world" through the report.
"We will show you how your iPad, your iPhone, your MacBook is made, and we will meet the people who made them," he said in a teaser. "We'll show you how these folks come on buses, sometimes for days, to travel to the Foxconn gates, desperate for a chance to wipe a screen or solder a chip for 10 hours a day at less than $1.50 an hour."
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Comments
The question remains as to how well said hands are treated/paid?
This... we already knew.
The question remains as to how well said hands are treated/paid?
Probably better than they're going to be in a few years times when they get replaced by robots.
Poor buggers.
This... we already knew.
The question remains as to how well said hands are treated/paid?
Good question. Since Foxconn make products for many different companies... are the workers who assemble Apple products treated differently than workers who assemble produces for Nintendo, Dell, HP, Vizio, Toshiba, etc?
And what are the average salaries for other types of work in China?
This... we already knew.
The question remains as to how well said hands are treated/paid?
Much much better than planting rice all day
- What is the percentage increase for OT?
- When does OT start?
- How many hours a week do they work?
- Ballpark estimate of income taxes?
At $1.78 per hour for a 60 hour work week that's $106.8 per week or $459.24 per month.Now taking 70¢ per meal 3x a day for 30 days is $63 a month for food plus $17.50 for lodging is $80.5 in base expenses.
That tentatively leaves $378.74 per month in profit which is $4,544.88 in savings for a year. That's hard work and not much fun but I don't think the job is more time consuming than cruise ships and from what I can tell they don't pay much better. The only difference is they do get tips and they do seem to work 3-6 month shifts on average before taking some time off. They also seem to work 7 days a week most of the time while I assume Foxconn workers get a day off.
it's certainly not a job I would want but I also wouldn't want a job working in retail or in the food industry, again, as I did that in my youth for little pay for rent that took me about 2 weeks of earnings to save up for. Back then I could also have a great night out on $20. "It was the best of times, it was the worse of time" is apropos.
Imagine Americans working on those assembly lines, all you'll hear is bitching and moaning.
The US Gov really needs to encourage their own people to invest in the US, not abroad.
They can do it by simplifying rules to open new businesses, factories... fix the education system too so US citizens can compete better in the world.
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The Verge put together a list of the most interesting facts from the show, noting that perhaps the most interesting revelation was that a Foxconn executive said the manufacturer would welcome demands from Apple to double pay for its workers./ ][/URL]
Slight omission in that Bill Weir added 'if Apple offered to pay for the increases'. That was a rather stupid question on his part. Why would Foxconn say no to a doubling of wages if Apple was going to pay for the raises?
Slight omission in that he added 'if Apple offered to pay for the increases'. That was a stupid question on ABCs part. Why would Foxconn say no to a doubling of wages if Apple was going to pay for the raises?
There are 400k employees working on Apple's products, right?
400,000 x $1.78 x 60 x 52 = $2.22 billion a year cost on top of what they already pay to Foxconn.
No wonder the Chinese are begging to get jobs. It's like when Henry Ford raised the mininum wage for his factory worker.
Very labor intensive! The same factory in the US would be done very differently.
Agree and that is why the factory isn't in the USA.
Perhaps some Chinese nationals can fill in some unknowns about labor laws:
The Nightline program answered most of your questions:
* OT is 1.5 times base or 2 times base under some circumstances.
* OT starts at 40 or 50 hours a week
* Hours per week does vary depending on production demands, however most workers will often put in 60 to 80 hours per week
* Based on the wages paid before the recent wage increase, a worker needs to earn 87 hours of overtime per month to even qualify to pay income taxes.
Hope that gives you some answers you can work with.
Slight omission in that Bill Weir added 'if Apple offered to pay for the increases'. That was a rather stupid question on his part. Why would Foxconn say no to a doubling of wages if Apple was going to pay for the raises?
The Foxconn manager damn near shit his pants with excitement at the very thought of everyone getting double wages.
I would like to earn a months rent with only 10 hours of work.
Sounds good, but you'd have to share your room with 7 other men all speaking Chinese.
I would like to earn a months rent with only 10 hours of work.
Keep in mind that they're living in shared accommodations.
You can do so easily in the United States if earn minimum age. Just keep in mind that you will be sharing a single large room with 5 to 7 other people.
$7.25 * 10 hours = $72.50.
$72.50 * 7 = $507.50/month.
Depending on where you live in the U.S. this could pay for something a little larger than a dormitory-style room with shared facilities.
The Nightline program answered most of your questions:
* OT is 1.5 times base or 2 times base under some circumstances.
* OT starts at 40 or 50 hours a week
* Hours per week does vary depending on production demands, however most workers will often put in 60 to 80 hours per week
* Based on the wages paid before the recent wage increase, a worker needs to earn 87 hours of overtime per month to even qualify to pay income taxes.
Hope that gives you some answers you can work with.
Thanks for the info. I hope more of the other details can get answered. Perhaps even someone who knows someone that has worked at Foxconn.
Oh, it looks like the video report is posted in section on their site: http://abcnews.go.com/nightline
Depending on where you live in the U.S. this could pay for something a little larger than a dormitory-style room with shared facilities.
Don't forget there is water and electric to pay, as well as laws regulated the number of occupants, which probably isn't that hard to get around but still can be an issue.
Good question. Since Foxconn make products for many different companies... are the workers who assemble Apple products treated differently than workers who assemble produces for Nintendo, Dell, HP, Vizio, Toshiba, etc?
In the other parts of Foxconn there is this guy that beats a big drum that everyone has to row in sync with. Stun guns applied randomly keeps everyone working feverently on the edge of their chairs. The sign above their work area reads, (Google Translation) "Work will make one Free."
I am assuming there may be some one who will try and correct me on my math. I actually rounded it off. So you can correct all you want I don't give a shit.