How many Taiwanese have committed suicide so you can have your iPhone?

[Dreamer Tatum]

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's Foxconn Technology, a contract maker of the iPhone and other consumer electronics, insisted Wednesday its treatment of workers is world class after a female employee became the company's eighth Chinese worker to commit suicide this year.

"We regret to see the recurrence of such incidents," Foxconn said in statement that came a day after a 24-year-old Foxconn factory worker surnamed Chu killed herself by jumping from her rented apartment in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.



Working people to death to sell shiny Apple toys: there's an app for that!

[Incitatus]

1. How many people work for that company?

Is the suicide rate for that company significantly higher than the suicide rate in China?

[aquart]

2. Shouldn't it be significantly LOWER?

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. Maybe it's higher because they're so fulfilled making Apple toys that their lives become meaningless

I mean, Apple's stuff is so superior to every other item with an on/off switch that maybe these workers have their lives utterly fulfilled by piecing together the implements of perfection.

Or, maybe they're just worked to a nub trying to keep up with the new products Apple introduces every quarter to keep their fans in line. Hm.

[Electric Monk]

8. You're posting this on DU from a device you made yourself from scratch, I take it?

:shrug:

[Mojambo]

3. There's gotta be an App that can calculate that for you. n/t

[Johonny]

5. +1

[MadHound]

4. People are worked to death in order to sell us lots of shiny things,

It isn't just a phenomenon unique to Apple, but also to the makers of many products we import from China and elsewhere.

[Toucano]

7. Foxconn sucks.

I avoid their motherboards like the plague they are.

I am surprised to learn that they produce iphones (well, maybe not too surprised).

This OP is ridiculous, however.

That factory produces a TON of different products.

I feel more guilt over the consumption of a tomato harvested by an enslaved worker in Texas than I would for an iphone purchase.

On the other hand, if singling out one contractor over others improves conditions, keep on truckin'!

[jgraz]

9. How many American workers have committed suicide due to on-the-job stress?

The problem isn't iPhones. It's our entire corporate-driven society.

[Tumbulu]

10. Bingo! (nt)

[Supply Side Jesus]

11. +1

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. Why didn't you mention HP, Samsung, Microsoft, and all the other CE companies

that use the same Chinese suppliers as Apple?

I wish Apple would move all their production back to the USA, but under current trade policies it ain't gonna' happen. Look at all your current electronic stuff you own, including the keyboard you typed this post on tonight. Chances are, it was made in China by the same freaking OEM company you are complaining about.

[PhoenixDaddy]

13. How many Enron employees committed suicide? Or Madoff vicims?

How many Enron employees committed suicide? Or Madoff vicims? It seems to me that we should wonder what happens to people who worked all their lives here in the US, only to have their retirement money stolen from them.