Apple uncover harsh conditions at Chinese iPod factory

[Herman Munster]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=401220&in_page_id=1770

Apple Computer Inc.'s investigation into claims of poor conditions at a Chinese iPod factory found no forced labour but revealed that labourers were exceeding the company's limits on hours and days to be worked per week, the company revealed.

The company said it was taking immediate steps to resolve that and other issues. The probe by the Cupertino, California-based company was in response to a recent report by the Mail on Sunday, alleging that workers at the factory were paid as little as £27 a month and forced to work 15-hour shifts making the devices.

"The team reviewed personnel files and hiring practices and found no evidence whatsoever of the use of child labour or any form of forced labour," Apple said in a report on its Web site that summarised the findings of its audit of the facility.

However, the probe did find that in many cases workers were exceeding the company's limits for overtime, which specify a maximum of 60 hours or six days a week.

[MrCoffee]

1. I'm shocked, shocked to find gambling going on here.

I'm sure Apple was stunned by the revelations. Who would have expected Chinese workers would be exploited?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

2. Guess how many Chinese parts are inside the PC you typed that on.

Granted, it's appaling, but at least Apple is doing something about it, and admitting it, instead of denying it.

Other companies should take note, and hopefully do something about it before they get slapped for it in the tabloids.

[alfredo]

12. Long hours cause a higher error rate. It isn't just an issue

of human rights, it is good business practice.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

18. Agreed.

Which is why people who purchase electronics (or any other device/item made in the third world or developing world) should support organisations that advocate for safe & fair labour practices, rather than waiting for the tabloids to get around to doing an expose. And at this point in history, that's just about all of us.

[alfredo]

20. I hope Apple becomes more vigilant of the actions of

its contractors. How Apple reacts could go a long way to help 3rd world customers because so goes Apple so goes the industry.

[meegbear]

3. IT'S A LIE!!

Steve Jobs is the bestest person in the world! This is just some Microschmuck trying to destroy Steve's reputation! Don't believe a word of it!

[Herman Munster]

4. Apple

has stockholders to answer to just like everyone else.

It's the reason they are using cheap labor in China to begin with.

People wouldn't buy a $1000 ipod if if was made in the USA vs. a $300 one made in China.

[meegbear]

5. Pssssst ...

I was making a funny. Sorry if that didn't come across.

[demosincebirth]

10. I guess you believe in the tooth fairy, too.

When it comes to profits... its profits and money at all costs.

[meegbear]

17. See Post #5 ...

thank you.

[bullimiami]

6. 60 hours or 6 days / week?

10 hrs / day and one day off?

wow apple you are really going out on a limb for the chinese workers.

(now back to my ipod)

[onehandle]

7. Any company that does business with China is approving Slave Labor.

This is coming from a Huge Apple fan.

Hey, Bush. Invade China, you wimp.

[hogwyld]

11. which is why the western world will die off

Western civilization had it too good this past century, and thus value free time over work. They want more money for less work, and so all of the world's manufacturing is going to China. We are ALL going to be waiting in soup lines, and taking any sh*t job that comes along. Eventually, we will all be speaking Chinese, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

19. Not necessarily.

I work for a company that manufactures products in several Asian countries. It's entirely possible to find factories in Asia that don't engage in these sorts of practices. Of course, you have to pay more, but the end result is usually a lot better anyway. That's the sort of thing that's important when you're building, say, a hi-fi system, and not when you're making $0.30 plastic gimcracks for Wal-Mart.

[onehandle]

21. We're talking about China.

You know...Oppressive communist regime.

You're talking about Asia.

[mikeytherat]

8. ____________ shocked to find ___________ in oppressive country ___________

Corporate Mad Libs!

mikey_the_rat

[MrCoffee]

9. LOL!

[Fierce]

13. The workers were exceeding limits for overtime?

What, voluntarily? Musta been, otherwise it would be forced labor, right? Right? Mm-hmm.

[madrchsod]

14. what do you expect from china..they are fuck`n commies!

trading with the enemy??? looks like it to me.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Yeah, I Believe That Report LOL Sounds Like They're Throwin A Bone To

make it go away don't it? "Nope, we didn't find any really bad practices. Everything was A-OK, but we didn't like that they had to work somewhat long days. We firmly believe that is inappropriate and want that practice to stop, but luckily everything else was perfect!". Yeah, right.

[AlCzervik]

16. that company makes devices for all the pc companies but they single out

Apple.