China Labor Watch again cites Apple for poor Chinese factory working conditions
Apple has come under fire again for working conditions in an iPhone and MacBook enclosure manufacturing facility, with workers allegedly undertrained, and lacking sufficient hazard protections.
A report from Bloomberg on Tuesday, and a forthcoming report from China Labor Watch both allege that goggles and earplugs for workers are not always available to workers. The sites have frequent spray of tiny metallic particles, and noise in excess of 80 decibels on the factory floor, according to the workers.
Dormitory conditions are reportedly terrible as well, lacking hot water and showers. As a result, workers may pass on washing for days at a time.
"My hands turned bloodless white after a day of work," one of the workers told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity. "I only tell good things to my family and keep the sufferings like this for myself."
China Labor Watch interviewed 50 employees for its forthcoming report, finding "major issues" with scheduling, pollution, and occupational safety. The advocacy group claims that the company violates Chinese law regarding owed wages for departing employees.
Other issues found range from a lack of rubber gloves to protect from fluid spray, the smell of the facility mostly from solvent off-gassing, poor respiratory filters, overcrowded dormitories with poor climate control, and bad training including short sessions and a lack of fixed procedures.
No incidents of child labor were found by China Labor Watch.
After hearing about the impending report, Apple sent an additional team to audit the complex. An Apple spokeswoman said that the team found no evidence of violations of its standards, after interviewing 150 people.
"We know our work is never done and we investigate each and every allegation thats made," the un-named spokeswoman said to Bloomberg. "We remain dedicated to doing all we can to protect the workers in our supply chain."
Catcher works for Apple, Samsung, HP, Lenovo, and LG, amongst others, providing magnesium and machined aluminum, with both Bloomberg and China Labor Watch mentioning the other companies in passing. Apple's iPhone and MacBook enclosures are milled by Catcher.
The report out of Catcher's Suqian facility is not the first to find issues. In 2013 and 2014, the supplier was found to be in violation of many issues, surrounding pay and hazardous material handling.
A report from Bloomberg on Tuesday, and a forthcoming report from China Labor Watch both allege that goggles and earplugs for workers are not always available to workers. The sites have frequent spray of tiny metallic particles, and noise in excess of 80 decibels on the factory floor, according to the workers.
Dormitory conditions are reportedly terrible as well, lacking hot water and showers. As a result, workers may pass on washing for days at a time.
"My hands turned bloodless white after a day of work," one of the workers told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity. "I only tell good things to my family and keep the sufferings like this for myself."
China Labor Watch interviewed 50 employees for its forthcoming report, finding "major issues" with scheduling, pollution, and occupational safety. The advocacy group claims that the company violates Chinese law regarding owed wages for departing employees.
Other issues found range from a lack of rubber gloves to protect from fluid spray, the smell of the facility mostly from solvent off-gassing, poor respiratory filters, overcrowded dormitories with poor climate control, and bad training including short sessions and a lack of fixed procedures.
No incidents of child labor were found by China Labor Watch.
After hearing about the impending report, Apple sent an additional team to audit the complex. An Apple spokeswoman said that the team found no evidence of violations of its standards, after interviewing 150 people.
"We know our work is never done and we investigate each and every allegation thats made," the un-named spokeswoman said to Bloomberg. "We remain dedicated to doing all we can to protect the workers in our supply chain."
Catcher works for Apple, Samsung, HP, Lenovo, and LG, amongst others, providing magnesium and machined aluminum, with both Bloomberg and China Labor Watch mentioning the other companies in passing. Apple's iPhone and MacBook enclosures are milled by Catcher.
The report out of Catcher's Suqian facility is not the first to find issues. In 2013 and 2014, the supplier was found to be in violation of many issues, surrounding pay and hazardous material handling.
Comments
They should do a watchdog for their government
That’s the scourge of being number one.
So people can draw endless conclusions about the poor working conditions and how this somehow relates to US working conditions.
The noise level report here is problematic. Did these workers interviewed by CLW have their own noise level measuring equipment? Do they have calibrated ears? Typically sound level measurements in a workplace require workers to be equipped with sound level loggers and be worn for an entire shift for valid results. Source: I was involved with a hired industrial audiologist that ran a study where I work to determine noise levels and OSHA compliance. 80 dBA is typically far below any threshold for needing hearing protection even for extended periods of time.
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9735
Ultimately, we as consumers bear responsibility. We all like inexpensive products. Who would voluntarily pay any extra $500 for their phone? But if we don’t hold the entire industry accountable and turn a blind eye to horrible abuses just so we can get stuff for cheap, what incentive do the manufacturers have to change? A more helpful article would compare the manufacturers’ facilities rather than looking at just one.
Once in a while news about bad working conditions for the suppliers of others tech companies is released but the story is always ignored.
http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-factory-working-conditions-2012-11
https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-supplier-factory-found-to-have-child-labor-watchdog-says/
* What I've learned in discussions with people from the huge Apple basher community, is that these people don't care about bad working conditions in tech. The bashers want their super cheap Android phones and they don't care how they are produced.
- But Apple bashers do want to read articles which trash Apple and the tech media provides material for this big audience (as tracked by the Macalope column). As for watchdog safety/environmental groups, with tech, they focus on reporting on Apple (which is the only way to get attention).
* Only Apple gets this level of scrutiny. And because I do care about these issues, it's one reason why I purchase Apple products.
Key point to remember here.
"advocacy group claims that the company violates Chinese law regarding owed wages for departing employees"
This is not US or international law, and if these Chinese companies broke Chinese Laws then China Government has jurisdiction not Apple or any other company. If a US company violate US labor law it the US government showing up on their door step making sure they comply with the law. Do you see these advocacy group showing up to company in the US and then complaining to the foreign companies who use them and tell them they need to do something about it.
When I worked in a machine shop in NYC, if the company didn't bother to provide ear protection or masks, I just went out and bought my own. Cutting fiber material on a lathe or milling machine produces a lot of dust and cutting metal on a lathe can certainly cause a high-pitched squeal. I don't need anyone to tell me I should protect my lungs, ears and eyes. That's just common safety knowledge I learned in high school shop classes. If I'm out in the yard spraying insecticide, you think I need someone to tell me to wear a mask and goggles and hand protection. Just a stray gust of wind could have that toxic crap in your face or get on your skin. Usually the product's instructions tell you that much.
How is it all those people that were supposed to be trained experts were running around the World Trade Center without masks after the 9/11 attacks? Anyone with any sense would have known the air was filled with toxic dust and materials. I saw firemen running around without masks or goggles and the dust was crazy thick you could hardly see. Where were the watchdogs telling people to stop searching in unsafe conditions?
Apple does not own any manufacturing facility and why do they keep after them. Apple goes beyond call of duty to make sure that their OEMs and suppliers follow much higher standards than other manufacturers.