AppleInsider Staff
Just hours after a new report slammed an Apple supplier for failing to meet labor laws in China, the iPhone maker has responded and revealed that its investigators are already at the factory in question.
Apple CEO Tim Cook touring an iPhone production line at a Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou, China.
"We take any concerns about our suppliers very seriously, and our team of experts is on-site at Jabil Wuxi to look into new claims about conditions there," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet said in a comment provided to AllThingsD.
Apple revealed that it has conducted 14 "comprehensive audits" of Jabil in the last five years, and three of those in the past 36 months. Jabil's facility in Wuxi, China, is said to have performed above the company's 92 percent average compliance rate for a 60-hour per work week limit.
"An audit conducted earlier this year did find that some employees had worked more than six consecutive days without a day of rest, and Jabil has been working with our team to better manage overtime," the company said.
The comments from Apple were made in response to a report issued earlier Thursday by watchdog group China Labor Watch. It claimed that workers at the factory have over 100 hours of monthly mandatory overtime, which would be three times the legal limit.
China Labor Watch also claimed that workers at the factory see more than 11 hours of standing work every day, while the Wuxi facility was also accused of inadequate training and hiring discrimination.
The Jabil factory in Wuxi is claimed by China Labor Watch to be outputting new "iPhone 5C" units for Apple. The company has scheduled a press conference for next week, at which it is expected to unveil the new low-cost plastic handset, as well as a new flagship "iPhone 5S."
Malcolm Owen
Mike Wuerthele and Malcolm Owen
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19 Comments
If the "Jabil" plant only produces Apple products, or is in any part owned by Apple, then yes, blame Apple. But what about blaming Jabil? Or the Chinese government? Or making other companies complicit that have products assembled there? Why are they singling out Apple? For that reason alone, this smells a bit funny to me. CLW went to the press first, instead of to Apple who is clearly responsive (unlike any other companies) to these kinds of findings. THey make much of APPLE being somehow behind these violations. It gets a full court press release, and clearly broadsides Apple, who launches what is functionally equivalent to "emergency response teams". All this in a run up to another product release (I'm seeing a fairly regular pattern evolving here). Either the violations start happening because the factories are trying to meet increased order commitments (a possibility, but I also know most people in the factories WANT the overtime so they can earn more), or it's a way for China to push back on Apple's popularity in defense of domestic brands. I figure that CLW is a government mouthpiece, and is evoked to manage Apple's image in the public mind. Why not go to Apple first? Give them a chance to investigate? They've been pretty tough on their suppliers. Especially relative to literally ANY other company. And why isn't CLW pounding on the government to apply better regulatory enforcement? No, just single out Apple, so we can get another apology, and maybe some free iPads.
I think the labor law should based on the person's willingness, if they want to work more, they can. When you complaint that to see a China worker stuck in a factory for 100 hours, What about an American work only 8 hours a day, but still texting email checking with their boss, keeping in touch with their clients after work until they really tired and fall a sleep? Who want to work, no body. but if we are willing to work more (while they can) so that they can have better life, let them (but don't force them) as long as they pay them well and treat them well. Who has a movie theatre or basketball field in your work place? Foxconn does. Can you buy a decent lunch with $0.50 US? China can. Can you rent a 2 bedroom apartment with $200 US/mth? China can. Don't compare with our standard, some are already better us.
This is a blatant attempt to smudge Apple's release of the new iPhones. Name me another computer company that's even half as proactive as Apple!
Off topic, AI, but why no mention of MS's smackdown of Motorola in court yesterday?
Google/Motorola (yes Google is involved) have been found GUILTY of abusing their FRAND obligations.
I just read on a German popular newssite that "Apple supplier is violating blablabla". I cannot recall EVER to have read something similar regarding any other well or better known brand. Hm, maybe except for when another sweatshop with children working their for some clothing companies is busted, but even there the headlines are very different. Sigh...