NYT Report on Foxconn, Apple Draws Mixed Reactions from Netizens

For more news and videos visit ☛ http://english.ntdtv.com
Follow us on Twitter ☛ http://twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ http://on.fb.me/s5KV2C

An in-depth report on the human costs of Apple products has set Chinese netizens abuzz. On Tuesday, Caixin—one of China's largest financial weeklies—published an article translated from the New York Times. It looks into the tough working conditions at Foxconn—a Taiwan-based manufacturer and major supplier of Apple products.

A New York Times report published on Tuesday discusses what workers face at Chinese suppliers of Apple Incorporated. It's titled: "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad." With the focus on Taiwan-based Foxconn, Apple's major supplier, journalists Charles Duhigg and David Barboza detail conditions from unsafe work environments to inhumanely long work hours.

The article has since been picked up by Caixin—a major Chinese news weekly. The translated report has been re-posted numerous times, drawing mixed reactions from Chinese netizens.

Some see it as a call to action for Apple to do more to improve the conditions of China's low-cost laborers. Netizen Zhong Qingsheng writes: "What a great article! This is what Caixin news should be about. Apple needs to do more for manufacturing in China, like protect labor rights and the environment!"

Another writes: "Apple's high profits are at great odds with its production environment."

Others see Apple and Foxconn as being unfairly singled out, compared to other domestic manufacturers.

Netizen Helena replies to a thread on the popular QQ microblogging site, saying: "In China, Foxconn is quite proper already. They don't delay wages and provide insurance. A lot of people attack Foxconn for fun, but how do domestic factories treat workers? Some barely make enough to survive after working for months. They can't get pay, and are fired for being pregnant. Our countrymen are so strict with foreigners, but can let our own misbehave."

Many believe labor problems at suppliers are beyond Apple's control, and that authorities should be doing more. A Caixin reader writes: "While Apple's supervision is important, the government's supervision is key, because they should play the role of carrying out the law."

According to the New York Times report, Apple has a code of conduct with each of their suppliers in China. It has also started publishing an annual responsibility report on incidents of code abuse, and how they are remedied. Despite these measures, the New York Times says violations are frequent, and any overhaul is unlikely, because, according to an Apple executive "right now, customers care more about a new iPhone than working conditions in China."

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• NTD
• NTDTV
• China News
• Foxconn
• NYT
• Apple
• Ipad
• Caixin
• labor
• iPhone
• workers
• China

[jkasarda1]

I ment i heart apple!!!

[jkasarda1]

I still -3 apple

[Infidel5150]

make the products in America problem solved plus americans make money and have jobs corporate scumbags are killing the american economy

[LampPlaceThing]

2:45 "Right now, customers care more about a new iPhone than working conditions in China" Sadly it is true.... until our free-speech media outlets complain about it.

[heresteven]

not all people who like apple products don't care about the working conditions in china.