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Apple Admits to Occasional Excessive Work Hours
rev_media writes "After Apple's release of a report on the labor conditions in their Chinese factories, many took issue with the deliberately vague wording used in the statement. The BBC is now reporting that Apple has admitted to 'excessive' working hours in some locations, and they would be ensuring that a 'normal' 60-hour work week will be adhered to from now on." From that article: "'We found no instances of forced overtime and employees confirmed in interviews that they could decline overtime requests without penalty,' said Apple in a statement. The firm said there were 'overtime limit exceptions in unusual circumstances' and that it supported a healthy work-life balance. But it did not specify what the triggers for 'unusual circumstances' were and what upper limit it set on working hours. Mr Kuczkiewicz said Apple had not asked workers what they preferred - a decent wage or minimum wage and overtime."
I live in Hong Kong, I've visited Chinese factories. There is nothing about "work ethic" as perhaps practised by Chinese immigrants trying to get ahead. Chinese factories are the prototypical sweatshops; many would easily pass for Dickensian "Satanic mills". When there's a deadline, the staff are told they have compulsory, unpaid overtime. The doors are often locked. (There have been many tragedies when fires break out and the exits are all locked.) Wages are often withheld. Troublemakers (eg, union organisers) may be arrested by police or just beaten up.
As a high-schooler, that concept is one of the most frequently repeated ones in my [predominantly Asian] high school.
Thank your parents for your opportunity. Few Chinese have your luck.
Chinese labour law is very clear on this issue and the comments attributed to Apple are laughable. It is unlawful for employees in China to work 60 hours per week, even if they request it. Chinese law provides for a 40 hour working week with quite limited legal overtime. Apple have chosen to permit these unlawful working hours.
It is very unlikely that Apple is unaware of this and this is just exploitation of workers by Apple's subcontractors.
900 million Chinese earn less than USD 300 per year and yes, that is poverty. You cannot live comfortably on that amount in China. No-one wants to work 60 hours per week, but it is not difficult to persuade someone to do that, contrary to the law, if they are very poor. That is why they do it - it has nothing to do with the Asian work ethic.
Apple should be ashamed of itself for participating in this exploitative conduct, and then trying to gloss over it.
Working for your own business cannot be compared to working those same conditions for others. Every business owner works hours similar to those you've stated. I used to worh 3-4 months straight for my business. People who work convenience stores near me open at 7 and close 11 to midbight every day, seven days a week, with only the owner working. Obviously, they find it better for them than walking out and finding a job in the community, for whatever the motivation.
Put identity in the browser.
Possible exception may have been Tibet. . .
Tibet was a theocracy with an upper class who did no work, but lived on the backs of others, although many of the upper class were themselves slaves of the theocracy in their own way.
It wasn't necessarily a very nice place, but the Chinese have certainly worked no improvement on it.
For bias purposes I'll point out that I am a lifelong Buddhist.
KFG