Ninth worker death at Taiwan iPhone firm Foxconn

[Apolva]

It's disgusting. Sadly Foxconn isn't alone.

[MrPinkPanther]

If I was a journalist then I'd ask Jobs about it at the iPhone 4th Gen Launch. Its frankly disgusting.

[Barmi]

If I was a journalist then I'd ask Jobs about it at the iPhone 4th Gen Launch. Its frankly disgusting.

It's nothing to do with Jobs. From what I've read, the suicide rates among Foxconn employees are pretty much the same across China. As Apolva said, they're not alone.

Foxconn is a huge company and provides good conditions and accommodation for its employees. Apple aren't the only company to use Foxconn –– plenty of technology companies do –– but Apple (given the huge media buzz they've generated recently) are arguably the most high profile.

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I read that Apple will be launching an independent investigation into the practices at Foxconn, so they can assess what their continued relationship would be.

[MrPinkPanther]

It's nothing to do with Jobs. From what I've read, the suicide rates among Foxconn employees are pretty much the same across China. As Apolva said, they're not alone.

Foxconn is a huge company and provides good conditions and accommodation for its employees. Apple aren't the only company to use Foxconn –– plenty of technology companies do –– but Apple (given the huge media buzz they've generated recently) are arguably the most high profile.

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I read that Apple will be launching an independent investigation into the practices at Foxconn, so they can assess what their continued relationship would be.

I know its not Apple but as far as I'm concerned Apple is funding the company that is letting this happen. Apple need to put pressure on them to turn it around, as you've stated they are Foxconn's highest profile client, do you think Foxconn would ever risk losing Apples business? Of course not.

[The Professor]

I know its not Apple but as far as I'm concerned Apple is funding the company that is letting this happen. Apple need to put pressure on them to turn it around, as you've stated they are Foxconn's highest profile client, do you think Foxconn would ever risk losing Apples business? Of course not.

Foxconn don't just make products for Apple, they make products for loads of people. If there was a string of suicides at a chip shop, would you question the farmer who grew the potatoes?

[xxMATTGxx]

Foxconn don't just make products for Apple, they make products for loads of people. If there was a string of suicides at a chip shop, would you question the farmer who grew the potatoes?

No but it makes us think. We all demand for cheaper products and that means companies are forced to get them made in countries like Taiwan where they don't haver strict laws like USA or UK does regarding work places. So it's like we are pushing companies like Apple to use such places where staff are likely to have a ton of pressure on them which makes them want to kill themselves. Does goes to show I suppose, like it could be our fault for this..

(Don't flame me here and I'm not saying we are truly to blame at all )

[The Professor]

No but it makes us think. We all demand for cheaper products and that means companies are forced to get them made in countries like Taiwan where they don't haver strict laws like USA or UK does regarding work places. So it's like we are pushing companies like Apple to use such places where staff are likely to have a ton of pressure on them which makes them want to kill themselves. Does goes to show I suppose, like it could be our fault for this..

(Don't flame me here and I'm not saying we are truly to blame at all )

Even if there wasn't any pressure from the consumer I'm sure companies would still manufacture where it's cheapest. But tbh I don't really find it comparable; China is a completely different country where they do everything differently. They're communist, they get put in prison if they have 2 children, they're mostly poor (compared to us). From what I've read the conditions in Foxconn are actually pretty good compared to most of china and this suicide rate is still lower than the national average. If you judge it by our standards then yes it's mental and should be stopped but in their country they're making a pretty decent living.

[MattFr]

These people would have nothing and would die a lot easier if they didn't work in these factories, jus' sayin'.

[Barmi]

From the sounds of it, Apple will be paying employees some direct subsidies based on which product line they are working. If true, it's hard to bash Apple on this one.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/a...-direct-wages/

[xxMATTGxx]

From the sounds of it, Apple will be paying employees some direct subsidies based on which product line they are working. If true, it's hard to bash Apple on this one.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/a...-direct-wages/

People had the right to bash Apple before any of this was "rumoured" as they were doing nothing about it. Nine or more people have already killed themselves until Apple has done something! Anywayyyy.

According to Reuters, Foxconn will be raising worker wages an additional 10% from the original 20% raise announced last week. Foxconn spokesman, Arthur Huang, said that the 30% base wage increase takes effect immediately. Foxconn admits that it hopes to earn the respect of its workers and raise efficiency with the pay increase while offsetting rising costs on the Chinese mainland. The company's shares fell by 2% following the announcement (in a market down just 0.4%, relatively), worried perhaps that the raise would erode operating profits. All this comes as more Foxconn deaths -- now at 12 -- are being reported. Family of Yan Li, a Foxconn engineer, claims that their son died of exhaustion after working non-stop for 34-hours, then returning for another 12-hours after a 10-hour break. Police have already ruled out suicide and homicide in the case. Nevertheless, Yan Li's family is demanding 250,000 yuan (about 25 times the worker's annual base salary) in compensation. Foxconn accepts no responsibility in the matter saying it would only pay out "humanitarian terms" to the family.