Technology Apple Executive: "Customers care more about iPhone than working conditions in China."

[tom_mai78101]

Original Title: "Putting a human cost on the iPad."

A day after Apple announced record profits, a new report provides a detailed look at the conditions that workers at its suppliers in China have had to endure.

The company, which reported $13 billion in profits yesterday, has been plagued by reports of long hours, unsafe working conditions, and physical punishment of employees in factories that make parts for its popular devices. Dozens have been injured and a handful killed in explosions and other accidents at the plants.

In a seven-month span last year, two explosions at iPad factories in China, including at the Chengdu facility, killed four and injured 77, according to The New York Times. In an exhaustive profile, Times reporters Charles Duhigg and David Barboza put a name and a face to the human price sometimes paid for those profits, spotlighting the final months of one of those workers who died that day in Chengdu.

It's unclear whether these allegedly unsafe working conditions have been thoroughly addressed. Apple previously adopted a code of conduct for suppliers, but the Cupertino computer maker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNET this evening.

Putting a human cost on the iPad - CNET

An in-depth New York Times report focuses on the final months of a factory worker who died as a result of an explosion at a factory that makes iPads, as well as the conditions workers often endure.

www.cnet.com

In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad (Published 2012)

A staggering manufacturing system in China has made it possible for Apple and other companies to make devices almost as quickly as they can be dreamed up, but for workers, it can be dangerous.

www.nytimes.com

At the end of both of these articles, they express the same quote given by an Apple executive. Do you believe in this, and what are your opinions on this matter?

 

[Accname]

Has been like this for ages in china. Well, i was never there myself but at least you hear about it every now and then.
Nobody cared but now that apple is producing there it suddenly becomes interesting?

 

[tom_mai78101]

Maybe it's a domino effect or something.

 

[xPass]

I feel like posting the "Aliens" guy picture with the caption "China" all of a sudden.

 

[FireCat]

but now that apple is producing there it suddenly becomes interesting?

Yeah it's all about Apple.
But hopefully awareness will spread and it can only get better from here.

 

[DM Cross]

While I wasn't shocked to learn that working conditions in China suck [who DOESN'T know this in today's day and age?] I was surprised to find out they were okay with their factories randomly exploding. If nothing else, wouldn't you want to eliminate this threat for the good of your... Goods?

It's a sick way to think, but if the ends justify the means, I guess...

Have a great day, everyone!

 

[Accname]

I guess as long as they make profit it doesnt matter. And they must make profit otherwise they wouldnt exist anymore i guess.

 

[rover2341]

well would you be willing to pay 10 more dollars for you ipad 2? (Assuming you would even want to buy one.)

 

[Slapshot136]

well would you be willing to pay 10 more dollars for you ipad 2? (Assuming you would even want to buy one.)

the price will always be $X99.99, it depends if apple wants to round up or down either way

 

[s3rius]

While I wasn't shocked to learn that working conditions in China suck [who DOESN'T know this in today's day and age?] I was surprised to find out they were okay with their factories randomly exploding. If nothing else, wouldn't you want to eliminate this threat for the good of your... Goods?

It's a sick way to think, but if the ends justify the means, I guess...

Have a great day, everyone!

Well, it's not like their entire manufacturing hall blew up.
Most likely a gas canister or some pneumatic machinery leaked and created an explosion. The cost of safety precautions for these things is simply higher than having an occasional work accident.

 

[Varine]

Has been like this for ages in china. Well, i was never there myself but at least you hear about it every now and then.
Nobody cared but now that apple is producing there it suddenly becomes interesting?

Foxconn is especially bad. It's not really that it's interesting either, this is old news, but Jobs just died so everyone is more interested.

 

[Icyculyr]

Media targets Apple now because they're huge, and you're guaranteed to get hits from it. Just put Apple + negative word in your article title, the results are revolutionarily magical. At least though Apple has joined the FLA and has increased how many times they check the facilities per year from ~110 to 270.

 

[Slapshot136]

At least though Apple has joined the FLA and has increased how many times they check the facilities per year from ~110 to 270.

I thought it was the number of facilities that was inspected that went up, not the number of inspections per facility

either way, the Chinese are benefiting from the jobs, or they wouldn't be taking them, accidents and all

 

[Varine]

I thought it was the number of facilities that was inspected that went up, not the number of inspections per facility

either way, the Chinese are benefiting from the jobs, or they wouldn't be taking them, accidents and all

No. The government is benefiting from them.

 

[Icyculyr]

I thought it was the number of facilities that was inspected that went up, not the number of inspections per facility

either way, the Chinese are benefiting from the jobs, or they wouldn't be taking them, accidents and all

I think the number of inspections overall went up and that includes checking over multiple facilities. That's true, it's nasty there but without those jobs many of them would become unemployed and they and their families would die.

No. The government is benefiting from them.

The workers are too, I'm not saying things are good over there, they're not, but without those jobs many would die. The Government needs to place laws for workers for more pay, etc.

Out of curiosity how does the Government benefit from them?

 

[Varine]

Without my job I would likely die as well. But they don't make me work 35 hour shifts. And how does the Chinese government benefit from us making everything there? That's obvious. Our government (the US) benefits from the import taxes. The Chinese government isn't going to change anything from the way it is; they have no reason to unless people stop manufacturing there. Why would they, because you say "Hey China, tell them to knock that shit off"?

 

[Icyculyr]

Without my job I would likely die as well. But they don't make me work 35 hour shifts.

That's true, but unlike us these men don't have any choice. From what I see, Foxconn is the top dog, and if you're working there you've got it pretty good comparatively. They can't quit and find a job with better hours that can make them the money they need to live.
And how does the Chinese government benefit from us making everything there? That's obvious. Our government (the US) benefits from the import taxes. The Chinese government isn't going to change anything from the way it is; they have no reason to unless people stop manufacturing there. Why would they, because you say "Hey China, tell them to knock that shit off"?[/QUOTE]
Oh, I thought you were saying it's beneficial to the Chinese Government that the workers get paid very little. It is indeed obvious that us getting everything made over there is good for them.

 

[Varine]

That's true, but unlike us these men don't have any choice. From what I see, Foxconn is the top dog, and if you're working there you've got it pretty good comparatively. They can't quit and find a job with better hours that can make them the money they need to live.
And how does the Chinese government benefit from us making everything there? That's obvious. Our government (the US) benefits from the import taxes. The Chinese government isn't going to change anything from the way it is; they have no reason to unless people stop manufacturing there. Why would they, because you say "Hey China, tell them to knock that shit off"?

Oh, I thought you were saying it's beneficial to the Chinese Government that the workers get paid very little. It is indeed obvious that us getting everything made over there is good for them.[/QUOTE]

It is good for them to ensure that labor is extremely cheap. If it wasn't, why would we continue to outsource the majority of the manufacturing there?

 

[Icyculyr]

It is good for them to ensure that labor is extremely cheap. If it wasn't, why would we continue to outsource the majority of the manufacturing there?

Well, for example, the resources required to make these parts are all mostly in China, and it's significantly cheaper to have a product built where all the resources and parts are made, rather than import those into the US. Additionally, as long as it remains cheaper than the US, we'll continue to use China, but who says it has to be extremely cheap? As long as it is the cheaper alternative, such business will stay in China.

 

[Varine]

Well, for example, the resources required to make these parts are all mostly in China, and it's significantly cheaper to have a product built where all the resources and parts are made, rather than import those into the US. Additionally, as long as it remains cheaper than the US, we'll continue to use China, but who says it has to be extremely cheap? As long as it is the cheaper alternative, such business will stay in China.

I don't even get what point you want. Increase the tariffs, no longer cheaper, far more beneficial to the US.