Apple Monitors Worker’s Rights For Its Products-Linked Unit in China

Foxconn Technology Group, is a company based in Taiwan, where many Apple products, as popular in China as in America, are made. The goods are manufactured under a strict code of silence, to prevent compromising on market plans, at a huge factory in Shenzhen.

Companies like Apple have very few outlets in China for their products and use Foxconn, because it has the capacity to meet the production requirements of Apple and produce millions of devices a month. However, it is seen that Foxconn violates Apple’s code of conduct, in which certain safety standards are to be met and workers are restricted from working more than 60 hours a week.

Labor groups have complained about low morale, overcrowding, barely survival wages, overcrowding and excessive hours of work at the plant.

Fair Labor Association, a Washington based group, inspected the company after complaints by human rights organizations. Its CEO, said that there were “tons of issues,” but also “dramatic improvements.”

Pressurized by labor groups and increasing attention over its working conditions, the company has advertised for the services of a safety and security officer, a lifestyle services manager and two fire chiefs for their unit. Louis Woo, Chairman of Foxconn’s retail division, confirmed “Yes we are hiring these positions.” The advertisement for these posts is apparently to ensure that they implement Apple’s code of conduct and rigorous auditing regime where all its suppliers are monitored and investigated regularly.

A spokesman for Apple Carolyn Wu told Reuters, “Apple is committed to driving the highest standards of social responsibility throughout our supply base,” “we require that our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made.”

Apple’s marketing of its products in China is undoubtedly motivated by China’s ascendancy as a global economic power, but it must not compromise with the high safety standards prevailing in our country. It  must continue to fight for the rights of the workers and enforce that they are paid a decent living wage, in an environment free of discrimination and harassment and that these strong human values will not be compromised for the sake of corporate profits and other interests.