Apple still shamed by China’s iPod sweatshops SIX YEARS after exposé

By
Simon Walters

Last updated at 10:40 PM on 4th February 2012

Apple has failed to tackle the scandalous working conditions at its supplier iPod factories in China, six years after The Mail on Sunday first exposed the company’s appalling record.

Workers are continuing to die and sustain injuries in horrific accidents as they are forced to work from morning to night for slave wages in sweatshop conditions.

The new allegations have been made by The New York Times, which found that Apple’s pledges to improve its safety record and working practices following our 2006 investigation have proved hollow.

Poor conditions: A protester outside Apple's Hong Kong store. An investigation has found Apple¿s pledges to improve its safety record and working practices have proved hollow

Poor conditions: A protester outside Apple’s Hong Kong store. An investigation has found Apple’s pledges to improve its working practices have proved hollow

Even though Apple’s own inspectors called for improved conditions, they have frequently been ignored, with whistle-blowers claiming the company pays only lip service to the issues in its relentless quest for profit.

The Mail on Sunday’s investigation revealed how Apple workers in China had to work 15 hours a day for £27 a month, and were made to sleep in dormitories and do push-ups as punishment.

Since then Apple’s profits have soared more than tenfold – and last month the company reported a record £8.2 billion first-quarter profit. But the Chinese workers, employed by companies such as Taiwanese-based Foxconn, have seen little benefit.

According to The New York Times, The Mail on Sunday’s disclosures shocked executives at Apple’s HQ in Cupertino, California. ‘Apple is filled with really good people who had no idea this was going on,’ a former employee told the paper. ‘We wanted it changed, immediately.’

Workers in a Chinese Apple factory. An investigation found some Apple workers in China had to work 15 hours a day for £27 a month

Workers in a Chinese Apple factory. An investigation found some Apple workers in China had to work 15 hours a day for £27 a month

The New York Times says that Apple found ‘consistent violations’ of its code of conduct after inspecting 396 of its sub-contractor facilities.

More than half of the audits revealed problems, including employees regularly working more than 60 hours a week, underage workers, falsified records, wages below minimum levels, pay withheld as punishment and improper disposal of hazardous waste.

More than 100 workers have been injured by toxic chemical exposures.

The New York Times added: ‘The workers assembling iPhones and iPads  .  .  . work excessive overtime.  Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk.

Pictured, the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Apple found ¿consistent violations¿ of its code of conduct after inspecting 396 of its sub-contractor facilities

Pictured, the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Apple found ‘consistent violations’ of its code of conduct after inspecting 396 of its sub-contractor facilities

‘Two years ago, 137 workers at an Apple supplier in Eastern China were injured after they were ordered to use a poisonous chemical to clean iPhone screens. Within seven months last year, two explosions at iPad factories, including in Chengdu, killed four people and injured 77.’

Among the dead was Lai Xiadong, 22, whose girlfriend recalled seeing his horrific injuries in hospital, where he spent two days before succumbing. ‘Over 90 per cent of his body had been seared. A mat of red and black had replaced his mouth and nose,’ she said.

The New York Times claims that in 2009 a Foxconn employee fell or jumped from an apartment building after losing an iPhone prototype. Over the next two years, at least 18 other Foxconn workers were linked to attempted suicides.

Another source told the paper: ‘We have spent years telling Apple there are serious problems and recommending changes. They don’t want to  pre-empt problems, they just want to avoid embarrassments.’

After The New York Times article appeared, Apple chief executive Tim Cook promised in an email to staff: ‘We will continue to dig deeper, and we will undoubtedly find more issues. What we will not do – and never have done – is stand still or turn a blind eye.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

Thanks guys, I love my IPad!

The fact is, that regardless of the feigned shock, horror of Apple executives.
Cheap labour and third world conditions, where the only reasons that they shifted production to China.

The problem is, the items that are produced in China are not cheap. They are the same price you would pay if the item was made in the UK or the USA, just that the profits are bigger, i.e. the production cost of the item is less. The unfortunate thing is we have no way to protest about this except abandon our mobile phones and walk around naked, because EVERYTHING we have is made in China.
– Trevor, Ammanford, Wales
…this comment is spot on. If apple were ‘shamed’ they would do something about it, maybe create a few jobs here in the UK. Oh wait a minute, that would cut into their profits wouldn’t it, the shareholders wouldn’t get so much, maybe they are the ones that should feel shame but I doubt they will.

Very disappointed by Apple. Close the factory in China, anyone putting money into China is supporting the appalling Bear bile industry.

***——–“I really like Apple products, their build quality, but I don’t think my conscience will allow me to invest in any until the poor people responsible for their production are treated as human beings and not worker robots.
– Kate, Southampton, Uk”——- Quite right. Stick to PCs. They’re made by workers on a 48 hour week, being paid well above minimum wage, working in comfortable conditions and looking forward to retiring at 60 on a wonderful pension. Aren’t they?

It’s the problem when dealing with a superficial and crass consumer base, they just have to fall for the marketing.

Bring manufacturing back to US or Europe then! Can’t have it both ways…

The odd thing is that there is a 6month waiting list for jobs at these so called sweat shops used by Apple

unfortunatly it is the face of captilism, i have friend who worked in the foxcom factory, she found it to stress full, rules were to extreame 30 mins for lunch 2 min toilet break she now works at tv production factry still hard work but she is much happer 1 hour dinner and time to talk and go toilet, many chinse work hard but can earn a fair wage, but the cost of living is lower too (rent a one bed flat in shanghai = 50 pound a month) we as a country priced our selves out of the market both bosses and unions landlords and goverrments just keep grabbing

as much as the problem lies with china and there attitude towards their workers, the real problem lies in the fact that american and british companies would rather use this slave labour so that they can turn the highest profits. as opposed to keeping manufacturing in their own countries, thus providing employment and healthy working conditions. nothing annoys me more than hearing from the bosses of these companies pretending to complain that they have to pay more to produce products in there own countries. utter tosh. these companies can still make them at home if they cared more about there own than about the huge profits they can make by exploiting a country who have no choice but to work for pittance due to the size of their population. we will pay heavily for this. britains unique selling point cannot be just banking as were crap at it!

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes