June 14th, 2006
Apple to Investigate iPod Factory Claims
By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
I hesitated posting this, but … there have been allegations about the conditions in Apple’s iPod factories that came to light last weekend. The allegations range from 15 hour days to $50-a-month wages. Apple has a code of conduct here which states, among other things, that “work week should be restricted to 60 hours, including overtime, and workers should be allowed at least one day off per seven-day week” and that “Suppliers must pay wages, benefits, and overtime to workers in accordance with applicable laws”.
“We are currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China,” said Apple in a statement provided to Macworld. We do not tolerate any violations of our supplier code of conduct.” Source: PlayList
We Say: Let’s be honest. This is no different than what happens at clothing manufacturers, shoe manufacturers, etc. … and I’m assuming many readers have seen these sorts of factories profiled on Dateline or LinkTV (as I have). Why should it surprise anyone?
The problem is not Apple’s policy however, as that’s clear. The problem is that there’s no way to be there, in the factory, monitoring all the time. Or perhaps the problem, properly stated, is that companies like Apple, Nike, do not have inspectors there all the time. Once the inspectors leave, it’s whatever the factory managers want. As Ars Technica states, “Overseas companies need to keep their costs down so first-world consumers can afford their products and they can stay in business. In places like China, the low wages and shocking conditions present an opportunity not unlike what came of the Industrial Revolution.”
Lockergnome's Tech News Watch says:
Apple To Investigate iPod Factory Claims
Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes: I hesitated to post this, but… there have been allegations about the conditions in Apple’s iPod factories that came to light last weekend. The allegations range from 15 hour days to $50-a-month wages. Apple has …
June 14th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
P Corbin says:
“The problem is that there’s no way to be there, in the factory, monitoring all the time.”
Huh? How much could it cost to have a presence in each factory? I would have to imagine that on a per-unit basis it couldn’t be much! That is just another lame-ass “it’s not my problem” excuse.
June 15th, 2006 at 6:10 am
Leo says:
Right, because Apple had no clue that working conditions in China were like that. I suppose they have to cover their ass and say they knew nothing, but come on, who actually believes that.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:10 am
Michael Santo says:
Well, you do have a point P. Corbin. Let’s just say that Apple and companies like Nike, etc. that use these factories do NOT have a presence monitoring all the time. When I say there’s no way, perhaps it should be more like companies don’t want to have to go through the trouble of such constant monitoring.
June 15th, 2006 at 8:22 am
Kevin K. says:
The sad thing is that, by pushing off manufacturing to low priced China, Apple is “saving” millions if not billions.
The assumption should be that they are saving so much money by manufacturing in China that they can EASILY afford to place an inspector or two or three wherever their products are being manufactured (that’s easy because it’s all in China)
So while I agree with your last statement, Mike, I don’t think it’s because they don’t want to go through the trouble, it’s simply because they are so greedy, every penny matters.
I always assume their profit margin by manufacturing in China is so high, they could move the manufacturing back to the US, continue to charge the same inflated prices they do now and consumers would get the goods they want at the price they want ONLY at the expense of Apple making less profit.
And it’s all about profit.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:25 am