You are on page 1of 3

The Independent: Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch Page 1 of 3

May 27, 2010

Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch


By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

The American electronics giant Apple was investigating damaging allegations last night that Chinese
workers making its new iPad device were subjected to such "inhumane" treatment that some of them
took their own lives by jumping off factory roofs.

Documents seen by The Independent reveal there are widespread failures by Apple's suppliers to
respect standards on labour rights and safety specified by the company, which had sales of £30bn last
year.

An update to the US firm's supplier codes in February revealed that a majority of its 102 facilities flouted
its "rigorous" rules on working hours, which include a weekly limit of 60 hours a week - equivalent to 12
hours a day. Some 39 per cent broke rules on workplace injury prevention and 30 per cent broke
guidelines on the management of toxic chemicals.

Audits uncovered violations involving child labour, falsified records and disposal of hazardous waste.

The company has been embarrassed by publicity surrounding 11 suicide attempts at the vast Foxconn
facility near the southern boom city of Shenzhen, where the iPad is made, which threatens to
overshadow the global launch of the touch-screen computer tomorrow.

Yesterday a "saddened and upset" Apple promised to investigate whether the plant, which employs
300,000 people who earn around 30p an hour, should continue to make its products, which sell for
hundreds of pounds each.

At the 1.2-square mile Foxconn facility, which also makes products for Dell, Hewlett Packard and Acer,
nine workers have died and two have been gravely injured in roof jumps in the first five months of 2010.

All the incidents involved workers aged under 25, who apparently have been disturbed by the long shifts
and strict discipline. Talking and music are banned during shifts, which last at least 10 hours. Workers
must perform a certain number of repetitive operations per shift, under the eye of allegedly harsh
military-style supervisors.

"Foxconn's management is totally inhuman," one worker told the Reuters news agency. Another said:
"They don't treat workers as humans."

A young Foxconn line supervisor, Tang Wenying, told journalists allowed into the complex yesterday:
"This is a good place to work because they treat us better than many [other] Chinese factories." In an
attempt to prevent more suicides, the Taiwanese-owned firm has hired 2,000 singers, dancers and gym
trainers. It is also putting up netting to thwart future suicides.

Concerns were expressed about the factory three years ago by China Labour Watch, a US organisation
which claims dire conditions involved "serious labour violations including excessive working hours,
unpaid wages for up to 30 minutes of work each day, compulsory overtime and extremely poor dormitory
conditions."

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=ODU0MzAyNA%3D... 28/05/2010
The Independent: Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch Page 2 of 3

Last July, it revealed the suicide of a young worker, Sun Danyong. According to its report, only workers
producing for Apple were given a stool to sit while working, while all others had to stand.

Workers also complained of violence, including beatings with iron bars and whips.

The allegations have not surprised campaigners, who say that while Western shoppers often hear of
problems at Asian clothes factories, conditions for workers in cleaner, bigger consumer electronics
plants are just as grim. "When you look at large-scale export-driven trade, it doesn't really matter
whether the workers are making clothes or electronics," said Simon MacRae, senior campaigns officer at
War on Want. "There's a similar pattern: long working hours, very poor pay and suppression of labour
rights. The sector provides jobs but without decent wages you are not going to lift people out of poverty."

Last month a report by the National Labour Committee, an American NGO, found that workers at a
Chinese factory supplying Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and other brands toiled for up to 15 hours a day in
heat of up to 30C. Other allegations about the KYE factory included sexual harassment and humiliation
by supervisors.

Teenage workers were pictured slumped over their desks during a break in a 15-hour shift. One said:
"We are like prisoners. We do not have a life. Only work."

KYE management responded that conditions were excellent and fully complied with Chinese labour
laws. Microsoft said it was "very concerned" and launched an investigation.

Although China has occasionally expressed concern over the regime in export factories, the spate of
suicides has spurred a national debate about whether workers fulfilling foreign orders are being pushed
too hard.

Campaigners believe Bangladeshi clothes factories are the very worst sweatshops, but factories in
China can combine the financial advantages of a cheap labour supply with a totalitarian state's
intolerance of industrial rights. Most of those in free trade export zones such as Shenzhen, the "the
workshop of the world", are owned by foreign companies.

Apple, which will open its 27 stores around the UK as early as 8am tomorrow to sell the iPad, said it was
taking the spate of suicides "very seriously". A spokeswoman said: "A team from Apple is independently
evaluating the steps they are taking to address these tragic events and we will continue our ongoing
inspections of the facilities where our products are made."

Hewlett Packard said it was investigating "the Foxconn practices that may be associated with these
tragic events". Dell said it expected its suppliers "to employ the same high standards we do in our own
facilities". Acer declined to comment.

Hard labour for gadgets

60 hours Maximum working week stipulated in Apple's "supplier responsibility" code of practice

54 per cent Factories breaking Apple's rules on working hours (according to Apple's Supplier
Responsibility 2010 Progress Report)

39 per cent Factories breaking Apple's injury prevention rules

30 per cent Plants breaking Apple's hazardous substance rules

30 pence Hourly wage of 300,000 workers at Foxconn in Shenzhen

86F Temperature exceeded in workshops at the KYE Factory in China, which supplies Microsoft

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=ODU0MzAyNA%3D... 28/05/2010
The Independent: Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch Page 3 of 3

2,000 Number of Microsoft mice mouse-makers in the KYE Factory must make per shift

15 hours Maximum length of a shift at the KYE factory

Independent Print Limited

2010 Independent Print Limited. Permission granted for up to 5 copies. All rights reserved.
You may forward this article or get additional permissions by typing http://license.icopyright.net/3.7463?
icx_id=news/world/asia/concern-over-human-cost-overshadows-ipad-launch-1983888.html?
service=PrintICopyright into any web browser. Independent Print Limited and The Independent logos are registered trademarks of
Independent Print Limited . The iCopyright logo is a registered trademark of iCopyright, Inc.

http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=ODU0MzAyNA%3D... 28/05/2010

You might also like