In the ongoing dialogue of Western trade with China that is a pertinent theme in this project, this surely has to be the story that is closest to home, what with me being a Mac user since 1984:
"An investigation into the conditions of Chinese workers has revealed the shocking human cost of producing the must-have Apple iPhones and iPads that are now ubiquitous in the west.
"The
research, carried out by two NGOs, has revealed disturbing allegations
of excessive working hours and draconian workplace rules at two major
plants in southern China.
It has also uncovered an "anti-suicide" pledge that workers at the two
plants have been urged to sign, after a series of employee deaths last
year..."
See more of this Guardian story here.
Half a million Chinese workers are paid about 65p an hour in a 60-hour week to cope with demand for Apple products.
1 comment:
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/12/27/foxconn-investing-1-1-billion-to-boost-iphone-production-capabilities/
Did you see this article? Something must be done to shift this burden. I too love Apple, as I sit here writing on an iMac, but the exploitation of the workers cannot be right. On all fronts the position is indefensible. I wrote to Steve Jobs before he died and suggested an alternative model - of course as a plebeian in Amerika I heard nothing back. Just reaching out in a common spirit, Sue.
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