Apple put in a horrible light on NPR.

[chisler]

I was listerning this evening to my local NPR affiliate in whick the topic of the hour was Mike Daisy talking about Chinese manufacturing. The specific plants that were the subject were owned by Foxconn. Foxconn is a chief Apple supplier. The narrative went into details about the working conditions these workers face, information was gathered by direct observation and worker interviews. Mike went on to say that how could a company so attune to minute details within its own production process conceivably not know what is happening at it supporting plants? Apple did promise to promote better working conditions from its suppliers after Foxconn employees were jumping out of windows. Apple was contacted by NPR for comment, but declined.

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[chisler]

I made an error and this should have been posted in the "news" sub forum.

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[dbw1000]

Foxconn supplies a surprising amount of electronics for a surprising amount of companies, and there are several suppliers like them in China and elsewhere. I have been in three of there factories. Their size is immense in relation to almost any other type of factory in the world, and I am sure some things are blown out of proportion. Just the shear size alone makes them a target for speculation. I am not excusing the bad stuff that may go on, but I think a lot of outside speculation is happening.

RIM may be the exception, but many smartphone manufacturers use suppliers like Foxconn if not them. Also, many PC makers use them as well. Again, not excusing it, but it is not isolated to Apple for sure.

[Accidental Post]

Like DBW said not an Apple only issue. Open your PC and look at the MB, PS and other internals most of the time you will see FOXCONN on it somewhere........

And it's NPR...so that tells you enough right there........

[zyiro]

like others have said foxconn manufactures for alot of companes... the chances of someone not having at least 1 foxconn product in their home is really rare. Heres just a few companies that use foxconn as their major production facility.

apple, acer, amazon, asus, intel, cisco, HP, HTC, LG, Dell, Nintendo, Microsoft, MSI, Motorola, Samsung, and Vizio just to name a few....

they also manufacture a large portion of car radios in just about every brand, as well as circuit boards used in regular home appliances like dishwashers, stoves, refridgerators, washers, dryers.....ETC

I was reading somewhere a few months back that something like 89% of americans have at least 1 or more foxconn product in their homes.

[D_March]

Originally Posted by Accidental Post

Like DBW said not an Apple only issue. Open your PC and look at the MB, PS and other internals most of the time you will see FOXCONN on it somewhere........

And it's NPR...so that tells you enough right there........

NPR is as good a source as you will find and Apple is known to have issues with human rights as well as high suicide rates in their Chinese plants. You can love your phone but spare me your rationalization.

[grahamf]

Foxconn working conditions vs international manufacturers = poor
Foxconn working conditions vs other Chinese manufacturing companies = pretty good actually.

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[TGR1]

Originally Posted by D_March

NPR is as good a source as you will find and Apple is known to have issues with human rights as well as high suicide rates in their Chinese plants. You can love your phone but spare me your rationalization.

Um, what do you mean about Apple's issues with human rights? Not entirely clear about what you are saying.

From what I have read online Foxconn's suicide rates are lower than China's national average, particularly among the younger set that typically work in these factories. Working conditions are rough, I think, but again have read conflicting reports on how rough, or that they are ok.

What I am more concerned with are the two recent explosions that are tied to aluminum dust. You don't get explosions from dust accumulation, which can even happen in wood and flour mills, if you have adequate ventilation. For me, the implications are not just in the explosions but the long term lung damage workers are potentially at risk for. Apple, which does yearly supplier audits, better look into that pronto.

[chisler]

I suppose that one of my objectives in my post was to bring forward the evidence that media does in fact 'pick on' others than RIM. I simply relayed a story, I am aware of Foxconn's presence in our consumables. Whether I would like people to do something about it or not is long for this forum. Cheers.

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[xandermac]

Apple did an audit of foxcon a couple of years ago, as a result foxcon changed a number of things and raised salaries.


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[xandermac]

Originally Posted by chisler

I suppose that one of my objectives in my post was to bring forward the evidence that media does in fact 'pick on' others than RIM. I simply relayed a story, I am aware of Foxconn's presence in our consumables. Whether I would like people to do something about it or not is long for this forum. Cheers.

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It was news a couple of years ago and apple was hit plenty back then.


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[xandermac]

Originally Posted by D_March

Apple is known to have issues with human rights as well as high suicide rates in their Chinese plants.

Apple don't have any Chinese plants.



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[D_March]

Originally Posted by xandermac

Apple don't have any Chinese plants.



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A pointless technicality but kudos for being a stickler.

[xandermac]

When accusations are leveled I doubt it's pointless to Apple.

Foxconn has a suicide rate lower than the national rate of China, they also manufacture for hundreds of consumer-electronics companies. It's hardly apples problem. However, Apple did conduct an audit of Foxconn which resulted in a number of changes to improve conditions and pay.


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[D_March]

Originally Posted by xandermac

When accusations are leveled I doubt it's pointless to Apple.

Foxconn has a suicide rate lower than the national rate of China, they also manufacture for hundreds of consumer-electronics companies. It's hardly apples problem. However, Apple did conduct an audit of Foxconn which resulted in a number of changes to improve conditions and pay.


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Yes, the signed pledges not to kill themselves and the nets surrounding the factories. Apple is a prince. But to your point, it's all fine as the intense suffering might be slightly worse with other consumer-electronics companies.