Foxconn: iPod factories get Apple approval
Quote:
Originally posted by jamezog
Apple may be able to turn this into some positive PR in the long run. Let's hope they can pull it off.
Originally posted by jamezog
Apple may be able to turn this into some positive PR in the long run. Let's hope they can pull it off.
It's good to see you have your priorities in order. Who cares about the people working the extra 80 hours, as long as Apple comes out smelling like a rose.
Let's cross our fingers about Apple being able to spin this in their favor! Hate to have the stock dip a couple of points, or have to pay an additional $10 for a video iPod!
Comments
Originally posted by JeffDM
Does Adobe require anyone to sleep on company grounds in Adobe housing?
Adobe housing would be kinda cool though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe
Originally posted by Kickaha
The thing that I find rather amusing, is when I saw the picture of 'military style exercise drills', I thought 'company provided calisthenics'.
Such things were compulsory and common in Japan in the 80s... a morning exercise routine was thought to wake every one up, and get them a minimum amount of exercise in their day. I can't really argue with it - if we had such a system here where I work, I can't say I'd complain.
Spin is everything though... tag it with 'military style', and you can guarantee a large segment of the readership will be up in arms. No pun intended. No secondary pun intended either.
I had the same thought when I read that caption. I guess most people out there don't remember the 1986 Michael Keaton comedy, "Gung Ho!"
According to a report by China CSR, Foxconn spokesperson Li Zong said the original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) complicated salary structure has caused misunderstanding among the media.
The spokesperson said the company has paid its workers according to the minimum salary standards of the Shenzhen local government.
At the same time, the China CSR report -- which is unclear in some of its source attributions -- said the Taiwanese manufacturer is now admitting that its employees work about 80 extra hours each month, which would place it in violation of Chinese labor laws.
In China, a company is considered to have broken the law if it asks employees to work more than 36 extra hours each month, the report states.
However, Zong said Apple "sent a special team" to the site of the factories to investigate the matter, but "found no problem."
Foxconn had previously denied any claims of wrongdoing, saying it was in full compliance with Chinese labor laws.
Both Foxconn and Apple have come under scrutiny after Britain's The Mail on Sunday this month published an exclusive report based on a first-hand account from within Foxconn's factories.
The report alleged that Apple's iPods are built primary by female workers who labor 15-hour work days for as little as $50 a month. Some workers were reported to live in rooms occupied by 99 other employees and where visits from the outside world were prohibited.
Last week, Apple announced a probe into the matter.
"Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible," the company said.
Dormitory at Foxconn's E3 factory | Image copyright Mail on Sunday.
Military-style drills on the roof top at Foxconn | Image copyright Mail on Sunday.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
And I assume the line about working 80 hours a MONTH is a typo? Most people would kill to work that little.
80 extra hours each month
emphasis mine.
Originally posted by minderbinder
Do we really know those photos are legit?
And I assume the line about working 80 hours a MONTH is a typo? Most people would kill to work that little.
Read it again. They worked 80 EXTRA hours a month.
Is Apple guilty? Or was Foxconn hiding their real operations, like many Asain factories do when the clients come to town? Time will tell.
None of this is good news for Apple, at least in the short run. But if they handle it properly, and show that they will not tolderate abusive labor, then they have an oppertunity to prove themselves AND influence the industry.
The part about being locked away from visitors is insane. Apple should do random, UNannounced checks or FoxConn can just play nice on the day of the inspection.
Originally posted by sandboxface
Is Apple guilty? Or was Foxconn hiding their real operations, like many Asain factories do when the clients come to town? Time will tell.
None of this is good news for Apple, at least in the short run. But if they handle it properly, and show that they will not tolderate abusive labor, then they have an oppertunity to prove themselves AND influence the industry.
Perhaps time will tell. Perhaps not - this is a Chinese company operating in China, after all. There's a lot of stuff about the Soviet era that many of us still know little (if anything) about.
I do agree that the folks at Apple have the opportunity to prove themselves by this situation. Regardless of the credibility of the claims, Apple may be able to turn this into some positive PR in the long run. Let's hope they can pull it off.
Originally posted by jamezog
Perhaps time will tell. Perhaps not - this is a Chinese company operating in China, after all. There's a lot of stuff about the Soviet era that many of us still know little (if anything) about.
We didn't have the internet in the Soviet era, nor did we have picture phones. I don't think you could compare the two. Our communication system are more sophisticated and are available to anyone who can afford it.
Originally posted by nagromme
The part about being locked away from visitors is insane.
Oh, so you can knock at the door of, say, Adobe's headquarters and they'll just let you in?
Originally posted by sandboxface
Read it again. They worked 80 EXTRA hours a month.
Don't tell me to read it again, jackass. THEY CHANGED THE ARTICLE.
It originally said "80 hours a month", the line after it is also new.
I guess next time I'll be sure to quote the orignal article in my post.
Originally posted by minderbinder
Don't tell me to read it again, jackass. THEY CHANGED THE ARTICLE.
It originally said "80 hours a month", the line after it is also new.
I guess next time I'll be sure to quote the orignal article in my post.
calm down there, buddy! How was he to know that they changed the article and you hadn't just misread?
...
Chinese workers also have a strange mentality about these things. If they need more money to feed their families they are as likely to strike for more hours as they are to strike for higher pay. This is no joke, they have (and will) strike to have their limits on hours lifted.
Things are very different in China. People do what they must to get by. Working conditions will only improve when unions and *every government* gets involved.
Google around for "race to the bottom".
Originally posted by minderbinder
I guess next time I'll be sure to quote the orignal article in my post.
Who's the jackass?
As for the iPods, what is up with the lack of quality in the iPods of late? Several of my friends (read - more than 6) have had to turn in iPods because they froze and couldn't be restored. Four of them have had to turn in more than one iPod in less than a year. My dad is on his fourth right now and he baby's them. Can anyone explain why it is that so many of my friends have so many issues with the new iPods? As it is I'm holding back from purchasing a new one and keeping my 40 GB Photo iPod which hasn't let me down. I won't buy a new one until I see quality control go back up.
Would be interesting, no?
Such things were compulsory and common in Japan in the 80s... a morning exercise routine was thought to wake every one up, and get them a minimum amount of exercise in their day. I can't really argue with it - if we had such a system here where I work, I can't say I'd complain.
Spin is everything though... tag it with 'military style', and you can guarantee a large segment of the readership will be up in arms. No pun intended. No secondary pun intended either.
Especially a company in another country!!!
How would any of you like for a foreign entity to send a team to the U.S.A. to investigate one of our companies labor policies? - and then catch hell from their constituents because they can't "reel us in and make us dance"
For what it's worth here are the labor laws of China: http://www.usmra.com/china/Labour%20Law.htm
Maybe Foxconn is in violation, but IT'S A PRC vs FOXCONN problem, not an Apple problem.