According to a Feb. 15 eWeek article, Apple has claimed it launched a high-level investigation into the 12 suicide attempts that took place at one of its factories, Foxconn, throughout the first half of 2010.
According to a June 1, 2010 ABC News article, Foxconn forces employees to live in one-room dormitories where several of the employees are shoved together. These workers work 15 hours a day for as little as $50 per month.
According to Ma Li Qun, a 22-year-old factory worker quoted in the ABC News article, the workers were not allowed to talk or look around at work. She claimed that the superiors would time them and fine them for any mistakes.
Although this issue was released to the public long ago, no ramifications against these “superiors” have resulted, and Apple fans and critics have started to wonder why.
According to a June 16, 2006 Washington Post article, when Apple received these complaints, they stated that they were committed to ensuring that working conditions in the factory would be safe and all workers would be treated respectfully.
But because of this ongoing issue, CHS students have begun to question the Apple company.
“It did change my opinion on Apple,” senior Renee Han said. “I thought of Apple as a highly advanced company, and therefore equally advanced with good factory conditions. Apple should
own up to its fault and improve working conditions for its workers.”
Even with the complaints, it is up to the consumer to either boycott these products or get Apple to change these conditions in order to help the workers at its factories.
“I think people shouldn’t necessarily stop buying their products, but maybe make it known to the company that they are aware of what is happening to some of the workers and that they want something to be done about it,” sophomore Coco Hermes said.
According to junior Katie Skrzynairz, Apple should consider changing how they invest their money.
“They should work to improve conditions instead of presenting new iPods and iPhones all the time,” Skrzynairz said.
For more information, see www.discussions.apple.com/index.jspa or communicate with Apple by visiting www.apple.com/feedback.com
