1. Welcome Guest! You must register first before you can post - registration is free! Or to start viewing posts, click Forum. If you are new to web forums, check out our FAQ.

  • The Foxconn Factory Where Teenagers Are Making Your iPhone For $1.78 An Hour

    by 
    delfim
    - Published on 02-22-2012 04:55 PM  Number of Views: 1762  
    23 Comments Comments

    This type of story, I don´t like. But it's a fact of life, yesterday's miseries, today's realities. What bothers me is that the businesses (both US and EU) that use manufacturers and suppliers in the Far East, (and elsewhere) are very aware of this situation, and they go in with full knowledge of the facts.

    Then they try to cover-up, or find heart rendering reasons that they're helping the locals attaining a better quality of life, like working 6 days a week, for 12 or more hours a day, "offering" living quarters that are worse than a South American prison (which it's what they really are).

    Hogwash! They're lining their pockets. That's the reality, that's the bottom-line. Using a typical British word, "bugger" the rest.

    Kids (that's what they are) working in these conditions, what is their health like? How long do they expect to live? What is their life? And so on and so forth... Questions most of us don't even think about when we bring up our own. We want the best for them, we expect the best .

    Now, for us to be part of this (we are, you know...) is sickening. I'm as much to blame for this, as are all of you reading this. Just think about this: if the iPhone (or any other smartphone) or a Pad cost an extra 50 bucks, maybe 100, wouldn't you buy it? Yes you would! No difference.

    Yet the big businesses think that is the real reason why you wouldn't buy. That's bull. The real reason is that their profit margin, (multiplied by the millions of goods sold), is extraordinary. Cheap manufacture, regardless of who or how, a little concern shown when this type of news breaks, perhaps a "social donation" (probably less than 0.01% of their total earnings) and their conscious feel better. They feel they've done their duty. And look forward to their next shareholders meeting...

    I just wish all these CEO's would turn to look back, and over their shoulder, see their own kids working and living like those they so easily exploit...

    I wonder what they'd think then.


    Apple and its manufacturing partner Foxconn opened their doors to ABC News so the world could get an inside look at the factory where iPhones and iPads are made.We've watched the report taken some screen shots and given you a condensed version of the report to flip through.
    It's somewhat disconcerting to realize the intricate gadgets we use are made by human hands. If you've ever tried to open up an iPhone, an iPad, or a laptop, it's hard to imagine putting it back together by hand. Yet, that's what's happening every day, thousands and thousands of times at the Foxconn factory.


    This is ABC News reporter Bill Weir. He's our tour guide of Foxconn.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    There it is, Foxconn. The controversial company that makes iPhones, iPads, and dozens of other electronics


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Before inspecting the factory floor, Weir puts on this anti-static suit


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    And he gets an "air shower" to blast off any dust


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    The thing that surprises Weir, and many other people, is that there are almost no robots doing the assembly line work


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Those intricate electronic gadgets are made by human hands


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    People work in complete silence


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    What struck Weir is how young everyone looked -- he says there were no 12, or 13 year-olds, but lots and lots of 17 and 18 year-olds


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Employees are paid $1.78 per hour. At that wage, employees are still too poor to have taxes withdrawn.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This is the camera module for the iPad. With two shifts they can make 300,000 in a single day.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    It takes 5 days and 325 sets of hands to assemble an iPad


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    They can turn a piece of aluminum into an iPad backing at the rate of 10,000 an hour


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This woman carves out aluminum burrs from 3,000 backings every shift. It's mindless work, and she says she mostly thinks about how tired she is while she's doing it.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Employees get two hour long meal breaks during their 12 hour shifts. In a large cafeteria, they can buy meat and rice for $0.70


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    After the meal, if they have extra time they take a nap. A Foxconn exec says this isn't because they're exhausted, rather it's a Chinese tradition.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Here's a look inside the dorms where they can live at the factory. Rent is $17.50 per month.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    And here are the infamous suicide nets


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Another look at them. They are supposed to stop people from quickly deciding to jump


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    These women are Foxconn counselors. They blamed the suicides on a mix of management, and young people adjusting to a new environment in Foxconn.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Despite the fact that westerners think Foxconn is crappy, 3,000 people were lined up to get jobs when ABC was there.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Foxconn hired ~80% of those people


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    Here's another look at the Foxconn dorms ...


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    For comparison, this is what it's like in a village outside of Foxconn.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This guy is with the Fair Labor Association and he's auditing the factory. How does he know he's not being snowed by Foxconn? He says he has a method of interviewing employees that gets the truth out.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This Foxconn employee was willing to complain on record. She thinks the dorms are too crowded, the pay is too low, and trees block sunlight from getting into the dorms.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This Foxconn executive said that if Apple wanted to raise wages, it could. And Foxconn would love it! It'd be Good for China and good for Foxconn, he said.


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)



    This is all well and good, but it's not fooling anyone


    ABC News (screenshot of a report)

    The ABC report was excellent. We got to see what it looks like inside of the factory. But, make no mistake about it, this was entirely planned and set up by Foxconn and Apple.As such, we really don't know the truth about Foxconn. With time to prepare it could have put its most happy employees on the line. It could have swept aside anything it didn't want auditors or cameras to catch. In fact, there are already reports that the underage people were forced to temporarily leave.

    However, it looks like Apple really is doing all it can to improve conditions at Foxconn. But fundamental institutional change will take more than a few weeks. It will take years. And we won't know if its working unless real investigative reporting digs in.

    A big camera crew from ABC is just not going to tell us what life is really like at Foxconn.

    By: Jay Yarow/Businessinsider

    Prologue: Me / Delfim
    Comments 23 Comments
    1. catstide's Avatar
      Those teenagers are also making your Kindle's,Playstation 3's,Wii's and Xbox 360's.
    1. catstide's Avatar
      Their major customers are:
      Acer
      Amazon
      Apple
      Cisco
      Dell
      Gateway
      Hewlett-Packard
      Intel
      Microsoft
      Motorola
      Nintendo
      Nokia
      Samsung
      Sony
      Toshiba
      Vizio
    1. delfim's Avatar
      All of them: great... that must make them all feel good.
      I'm elated...
    1. Capdot's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by catstide View Post
      Their major customers are:
      Acer
      Amazon
      Apple
      Cisco
      Dell
      Gateway
      Hewlett-Packard
      Intel
      Microsoft
      Motorola
      Nintendo
      Nokia
      Samsung
      Sony
      Toshiba
      Vizio
      No no, cat!

      All those companies may also be clients of Foxconns, but they dont make enough money to be held responsible for cheap labor. Yes, they use it themselves but they have to cross that imaginary Billion dollar mark to be be responsible to rid the world of it's issues. After they become mega rich is when they are expected to have morals.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      Putting that aside for a moment (not that I disagree in the least) Apple still has responsibility. Reports show they have ignored or simply threatened, until the story hits national news. I agree (before you come at me for picking on Apple) that each and every company has a part in this and ALL should be held responsible. Why, though, has it come to this to enforce better standards?My issue is that Apple knew about this and hasntt enforced change. Of course we dontt know if the same holds true for the other companies. My point is that because Apple has glossed over this in the past and does have huge profits, they should be targeted. (Idd support the same against any of those companies once evidence of ignoring conditions comes to light as it has with Apple)
    1. delfim's Avatar
      You guys obviously see the US picture. Ok, they're the major players but also with the EU involved.
      This isn't a question of "who". This is question of why and why again, in a different guise. This time it's not played by Governments (although played by politicians). It's played by astute businessmen that couldn't care about how you or I and the general population get exploited.
      The US was friendly in the past decades with fascist right wing murderers in South America and others in Asia. It served US purposes. And they swore blindly that was the right thing to do - well, we know it wasn't. Now it's friendly with Afghanistan and Pakistan and goodness knows who, regardless of the fact we perceive them as crooks, terrorists, religious fundamentalists ... this was then, and it's still convenient, now.
      Regardless of what civility and morals tell us. Europe did (and does) the same thing in Africa, the Middle-East, all over the place.
      All this led to wars, conflicts etc. A few thousand deaths and another million deaths here and there. Who the heck cares? As long as it doesn't affect me directly, it's fine.
      Nowadays, the "war" is world economics, globalization. It's about banks, bankers, CEO of major corporations, loan sharks etc.
      Different war this, different background and for different reasons. This isn't for the good and honour of a country (any country) and it's citizens. No siree.
      We shoouldn't be fooled.
      This particular war is good for a few.

      Sorry guys. I really get pi**ed off with this. Makes me incoherent.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      Unless these audits are surprise visits theyree pointless. Cat I am only commenting on this article. I am well aware there are others, however the microscope is on Apple. There have been reports that Apple knew of these conditions and did little to rectify it. May be same issue with other companies. If so they need to be in the same boat facing the same scrutiny as Apple. Letss face it, none if us are going to stop buying Apples, Samsung, HP, or any of the others. Basically articles like this are chum for internet debates and arguments where we all show outrage but do little to effect any real change. I am guilty, i am not alone.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      Blah blah blah, Change comes for within. Not from the outside. It's the same that's happened in the US and across Europe so many years ago. If the workers and Chinese want better pay and working conditions. It will be up to them to make it happen. Not Apple,Samsung,Acer or any one else that use the many factory's in china. Not just FoxConn.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      Blah blah blah?
      So unless the workers revolt its OK for companies to exploit them?

      Wow. I'm guessing that opinion would differ if you (or a loved one) were one of the workers.

      As long as we get the devices it's all good though. Hell with them.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      Apparently you missed my previous posts.
      Guess because I use an android no point I make is valid?

      "
      Cat I am only commenting on this article. I am well aware there are others, however the microscope is on Apple. There have been reports that Apple knew of these conditions and did little to rectify it. May be same issue with other companies. If so they need to be in the same boat facing the same scrutiny as Apple. Letss face it, none if us are going to stop buying Apples, Samsung, HP, or any of the others. Basically articles like this are chum for internet debates and arguments where we all show outrage but do little to effect any real change. I am guilty, i am not alone."

      From a few posts above.....

      Guess because Samsung isntt making news about this issue the fact that Apple is is just out of hate for Apple?
      Where did I dismiss any responsibility for ANY other company?

      My comments are on this article and colored by various news reports on Apples knowledge and ineffectiveness in dealing with Foxcon.
      Want until the crap hit the fan with the media did Apple acknowledge the issue. If the same thing is needed for Sammy or anyone else, then so be it.

      Ivee lready admitted that I buy Samsung. That wouldntt change, nor do I expect ypudd drop your iPhone. All you or I or anyone WILL do is fight and lament the issue. To me (including my part) thatss sad. I wince at my part. I wince at my hypocritical behavior. Wish I could do something more, but dontt know how or where to begin.

      Know of a smartphone not made in China?
    1. RogerG's Avatar
      I'm not gonna let this get out of hand, fellas.

      I don't think Jay is taking an "almighty stance" at all, and in fact seems to be the only voice of reason in here at the moment.

      So, everybody cool off, and if you have something to post, post it in a manner that is respectful and not condescending or defensive.
    1. RogerG's Avatar
      Honestly, I don't think anybody here is in a position to know what truly goes on over there. As others have pointed out, could very well be that other companies are just as involved in the same sort of exploitation as Apple is, but the fact is, because Apple just happens to be the top dog at this point in time, the scrutiny is on them, and rightly so.

      I think it's naive to think that workers at a company in China would be able to rise up their own and demand those types of changes without some outside influence. If Apple was, indeed sweeping this under the rug for so long before finally being called on it, then it's quite possible that other companies will also be forced to make a play.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      http://goodelectronics.org/news-en/f...ple-suppliers/

      Wanted to chose a link that wasn't an android site.

      FOR THE RECORD I'd hold ANY company responsible that knows and ignores.

      Apple sits on a mountain of cash, making it a target. One of the pitfalls of success. Accept that, please and dontt just believe we (well ALL) android users are blind and are ignorant to the possibility of Samsung etc being included.

      But what cost? We all know Apple charges a premium for its devices. Some would argue overpriced. The profits they make are in part due to cheap labor afforded them by Foxconn. If not then clearly Apple would replace them, and they know it. Hence this issue. Provide parts and labor cheap or lose supplier status.

      We (all of us) want to pay an expected amount for our devices. In doing so we (you and I) encourage this. Betcha if it wasntt in the media we would look the other way. Just as guilty, all of us.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by jfcooley View Post
      Blah blah blah?
      So unless the workers revolt its OK for companies to exploit them?

      Wow. I'm guessing that opinion would differ if you (or a loved one) were one of the workers.

      As long as we get the devices it's all good though. Hell with them.
      First, did I say that it was OK? No, what I said was that no one is going to change anything unless the workers do something for themselves. You can push and change whatever you wish but until the people it affects have the desire to change and to stand up for what they believe is right, nothing will. Until they are willing to SACRIFICE IT ALL nothing will change.

      Would my opinion be different if it were me or a family member. NO, IT WOULDN'T. I have the desire and want to be able to provide a life for no only me and my wife but the family we want and so on down the line. I dont sit on *** and complain that there isn't a job to be had or that times are rough. I worked in many fields and paved my own way in this life. Not by complaining that "it should be this way" or "someone should do something". Ive taken the chances, risked it all, and fallen down. But never, not once give up on what I've wanted. I still work 12-13 hours a day. Sometimes 15. Most of the time Sunday I'm in the office from 0600-1100. Then again at night. Do I still need to. No. I've acumliated enough that there isn't to much I can't stroke a check for. Do I see that as being enough. No. I want my future generations to have it easier than me. That's what we as humans should drive for. I wanted change, I didn't want the normal life. And I damn sure didn't get it by accepting what I was handed. So would my opinion be different, NO. That's me. And somewhere in China, there's someone like me.

      "as long as we get the devices we want, hell with 'em" - if I shed a tear for some soul that accepted his fait. That will be a first. Where there is a will there is way.


      Quote Originally Posted by RogerG View Post
      Honestly, I don't think anybody here is in a position to know what truly goes on over there. As others have pointed out, could very well be that other companies are just as involved in the same sort of exploitation as Apple is, but the fact is, because Apple just happens to be the top dog at this point in time, the scrutiny is on them, and rightly so.

      I think it's naive to think that workers at a company in China would be able to rise up their own and demand those types of changes without some outside influence. If Apple was, indeed sweeping this under the rug for so long before finally being called on it, then it's quite possible that other companies will also be forced to make a play.
      It naive to think that one company is going to change a country. Did that happen here?? No, did it happen in Europe? No. It took the will of a people to make that happen. What would've happened if the original colonist waited for some outsider to help???? What would've happened if the workers of this country didn't unite to oppose very much the same thing this article is about??? Some of you need to do a history lesson. And some need to learn that the people that make a difference aren't the ones that sit around and complain about how it should be, there the ones that can make the desision to kill one to save ten.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      I may come off as a pompous *** but so be it. Tired of all the whineing and help me help people.
    1. jfcooley's Avatar
      God forgive me.

      You come off as a complete and total ***.

      Just tired of the self-righteous and arrogant holier than thou bullshit.

      If I come off as whineing, so be it.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by jfcooley View Post
      http://goodelectronics.org/news-en/f...ple-suppliers/

      Wanted to chose a link that wasn't an android site.

      FOR THE RECORD I'd hold ANY company responsible that knows and ignores.

      Apple sits on a mountain of cash, making it a target. One of the pitfalls of success. Accept that, please and dontt just believe we (well ALL) android users are blind and are ignorant to the possibility of Samsung etc being included.

      But what cost? We all know Apple charges a premium for its devices. Some would argue overpriced. The profits they make are in part due to cheap labor afforded them by Foxconn. If not then clearly Apple would replace them, and they know it. Hence this issue. Provide parts and labor cheap or lose supplier status.

      We (all of us) want to pay an expected amount for our devices. In doing so we (you and I) encourage this. Betcha if it wasntt in the media we would look the other way. Just as guilty, all of us.
      I love how people still bring up the cheap labor thing. Please. If you really think that's it you're buying the liberal media crap. I guess that's why BMW,Mercedes,Toyota,Boieng,GE,Michellin, all build here. Cheap labor.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by jfcooley View Post
      God forgive me.

      You come off as a complete and total ***.

      Just tired of the self-righteous and arrogant holier than thou bullshit.

      If I come off as whineing, so be it.
      That last sentence wasn't directed at you.

      Do I think I'm better than some. Damn right I do. Ive worked my a$$ to earn that. Do I have a ego. Damn right. Earned it. Am I a kind caring person. Damn right. But I have no sympathy for those that aren't willing to help themselves.
    1. BHP77's Avatar
      Does anyone really think that anything Apple does is going to change the situation over in China??
    1. Capdot's Avatar
      Nope. 100 billion in the bank isn't going to change cheap labor, poverty, or other injustices to humanity. To think that Apple the company that writes a "simple OS" or is responsible for the great "walled garden" is going to change China and injustices to humanity is beyond stupidity. They can raise wages, but thats not gonna change the conditions for cheap farming labor, clothing labor, long hours.

      This is a issue that will take all of humanity to change, not one single company raising wages.
    Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
    Comments Leave Comment

    Click here to log in