Apple 'dismayed' to find over 100 kids building its iDevices
Apple found 106 different ongoing cases of underage workers in its suppliers in China and 70 historical cases, according to its seventh annual supplier audit. The fruity firm said it was "dismayed to discover" that one supplier, Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics (PZ), was rampantly violating the policy, with 74 different …
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Eadon.....
<Eadon mode>
Of course, this happens because of proprietary software, There's no way this could happen with open source, because even those that are paid to work on Linux development by various companies are personally vetted by Linus, who let's NOTHING slip past him.... That's yet another reason why Linux is the best operating system IN THE UNIVERSE BAR NONE.
</Eadon mode>
Re: Eadon.....Nice try...
Thanks for the "puesdo Eadon" Jamie. But you need to make the posts' content even further from the point of the article. Oh yeah, next time make use of multiple "windoze", "wintard", M$ etc. to achieve that holier-than-thou late 1990's Linux guru feel. Overall good effort 7/10.
Re: Eadon.....Nice try...
For extra points, include the word "shill" in every sentence. You should also use this to describe anyone who has an opinion different to your own.
"Apple 'dismayed' to find over 100 kids building its iDevices"
Allegedly sources "quite close to the situation" say it had expected to find "at least 5,000" and is now wondering "how the other 4,900 got away."
Clearly one area other manufacturers do not copy Apple in being more open and doing something about it.
The main issue preventing transfer of manufacturing to the US/EU is the way China taxes exports of rare earths. Destroying pay and conditions in the US (and now the UK) is not going to bring about any significant improvement in manufacturing that relies upon these materials until this sourcing problem is resolved.
Apple should have cancelled the contract with the Company that charges fee's, not just had a word with them, frankly it disgusts me.
The people that think it's OK to work at 14, sorry, but an education is important, not just basic skills, but advanced or trade skills, people who have degrees cannot even get jobs in the UK, frankly that families feel the need to forge documents is a disaster, education is the biggest regret of adults, and these kids are probably being robbed of choice through financial pressures on the family, it is not OK.
And it is exploitation, as you can pay kids in the UK (16 year olds, yes they are kids) half the wage of a 25 year old (even with our minimum wage structure)
And 60 hour weeks, what is the point of living, it's not like these jobs are skilled and enjoyable
Those who are for kids under 16 working are probably imagining the work being outside of school hours, like they would have had (paper round etc.). Which is probably not the case when we're talking about factories using child labour...
"people who have degrees cannot even get jobs in the UK"
Show me anyone who really believes a degree guarantees employment and I'll show you a fool.
I really don't get the connection between child labour in China and Literature/Politics/Physics graduates.
Yay, meet the iPod Touch
Built by children, for children. Reminds me of the Onion's spoof Gap ad.
errr
100 children out of a workforce of what, 1 million (this is not Foxconn, this includes all the suppliers to Apple through Foxconn).
0.01%? Anyone think any large organisation is obeying the law perfectly down to that level of statistical noise?
I am entirely certain Apple was dismayed that 100 kids were found building iPhones.
Probably the tip of a really depressing iceberg
Apple are to be commended for coming clean, but they must have known full well that the conditions in some of those factories wasnt good. I bet there were many more bonded/child workers that the factories managed to hide. Maybe they even let the auditors find some low hanging fruit to put them off the scent.
Points are deducted for Apple not even passing the savings they made onto their customers though. At least that nice mp4 cellphone watch made with the despair of a thousand weeping orphans is only £59 on ebay. Apple, why are iphones so expensive?
Don't know how to call this one.
I'm not an Apple fan (almost the complete opposite), most of my toys are android based, but I don't know how to call this one.
Top marks for honesty and public disclosure to Apple, but have they penalised these supplier?
It's going to hurt up and down the supply chain (and this is where it goes from pontification to complete disapproval); Have Apple returned the units and demanded a refund, as these companies have obviously violated Apple's supply policy?
But here's my problem; While it's easy to point out the failures of Apple to act upon this information, how many of the companies I'm buying from are enjoying the same benefits while turning a blind eye?
So, on the whole, I'm inclined to say it's a small win for Apple.
"I'll get my coat " icon because I'll probably get hit from supporters in all camps who have the attention span of a goldfish and didn't read all of the post.
Have a nice day!
Top marks for honesty and public disclosure to Apple, but have they penalised these supplier?
Given one of the lanour companies is out of business, I would say there has been some penalisation.
Agree with most of your other points though.
Britain during the Industrial Revolution
and later exploited small/young/immature people in diabolical and dangerous Factories and Mines.
The Royal Navy in Nelson's time used 8 and 9 year old sailors as "Powder Monkeys".
It is only very recently that Britain has been able to become all sanctimonious.
LEAVE CHINA ALONE!
Two things come to mind, first and foremost these children are going to great lengths to get these jobs, falsifying age documents etc. They aren't being sold into slavery, they aren't being kidnapped they are going to lengths to get work. Why should we force our "children can't work" bullshit on China?
Hell when I was under 16 I wanted to work, even if it was only part time, but I couldn't. I wasn't allowed, and I couldn't even get a job until I hit 18 because the only work in this area is factory based, alcohol based or 'you need a degree' based.
Furthermore this point
The audit found that 34 factories required female workers to be screened to see if they were pregnant before they were hired and 25 were doing other medical testing like Hepatitis B tests.
I actually think this is a great idea. If I were looking for a full time employee and they said "yeah I'm only working for 9 months or less, then I'm taking off" I wouldn't hire them. Why should a pregnant woman get different treatment? Then again, I'm also for people not getting maternity unless they've been working at a company for over a year.
Dismayed
That's alright then. However, as the number of new cases outweighs all the historical ones they obviously aren't doing anything about it which is no surprise after all, as being dismayed costs them nothing. If the trend continues then no doubt they'll be dismayed again after the next audit .
Yet another reason to by british
Sure, I need a suitcase to carry around the coal, and I have to wear a pneumatic arm to lift the phone. But at least I can be smug.
in demand
Forgive me for straying from the IT angle just briefly, but surely the bigger problem at hand is that the largest population in the world (China) is stricken with such poverty that parents desperate for an extra income are faking documents to get their kids into nightmarish factory jobs?
Take 2... now I get it
On first glance I thought that 100 kids were building good iClones on their own
"In total, 11 factories supplying parts for iDevices were found to have employed underage workers, but in the other cases, the facilities apparently "had insufficient controls" to check their staff's age, and there was no intentional hiring of kids, Apple said."
Am I just an old jaded cynic for reading that as:
"The companies that were critical to Apple's profits/supply chain were found to have performed no intentional hiring of kids. The one that wasn't was thrown to the wolves to make the company look good"
There's a cash-cow there Apple
Patenting social responsibility and humanitarianism would net you PROFIT!
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