Made In China: Apple Squash. An Exposing Article About Exploitation.
A watchdog group contends that Apple is still exploiting workers overseas. The computing giant “consistently suppresses labor costs by shifting production to cheaper manufacturers,” which has led to “poorer labor conditions,” says China Labor Watch.
According to a report CLW released Wednesday, Apple shifted production orders in China from Foxconn to cheaper supplier Pegatron to offset Foxconn’s rising labor costs. Research of Pegatron workers’ paystubs revealed an average of 60-plus working hours per week. Moreover, 52% of workers completed more than 90 hours of overtime per month, some working as many as 132 hours of overtime.
“Workers desire overtime because their base wages are too low; base wages cannot meet the local living standard,” the group wrote in a press release announcing the report. “Apple must take more responsibility for improving labor conditions.”
A BBC investigation for Panorama has exposed poor working conditions at factories making Apple products in China. The undercover team secretly filmed the iPhone production line and found Apple’s promises to protect workers were routinely broken. One undercover reporter – making parts for Apple computers – had to work eighteen days without a day off. Other workers were filmed falling asleep.
