Slashdot Mirror
Apple To Help Foxconn Improve Factories
An anonymous reader writes "In a welcome move, Apple has agreed to help share initial costs with Foxconn in improving the factories being used to manufacture iDevices. From the article: 'Foxconn chief Terry Gou did not give a figure for the costs, but the group has been spending heavily to fight a perception its vast plants in China are sweatshops with poor conditions for its million-strong labor force. It regards the criticism as unfair. "We've discovered that this (improving factory conditions) is not a cost. It is a competitive strength," Gou told reporters on Thursday after the ground-breaking ceremony for a new China headquarters in Shanghai. "I believe Apple sees this as a competitive strength along with us, and so we will split the initial costs."'"
I think this is great move by Apple. It also shows that they care about other things than profit, unlike *ahem* certain privacy violating company Mountain View that just decided to pack their packs and leave after they couldn't compete with Baidu.
On top of that this is also interesting view to changes in worlds politics. We haven't had such industrial revolution since the US started growing. It also shows that the hybrid socialist-capitalism system that China (and somewhat Europe too) has is a great strength compared to the US hard stance on pure capitalism. Having spent time the China and other places in Asia I must also say that the people are much nicer and reasonable. It is often impossible to deal with Americans, but Asian people still enjoy good old talk, socializing and being together. Also the cheer amount of their population and business culture, with a still relaxed life helps them.
I am more than interested to see this change in politics, and as I am already living in Asia (I moved here from Europe), stuff is about to get great soon.
oh.
Fox to help hens improve hen house. Farmers think everything will turn out just swell.
I think this is great move by Apple. It also shows that they care about other things than profit, unlike *ahem* certain privacy violating company Mountain View that just decided to pack their packs and leave after they couldn't compete with Baidu.
Indeed, this is not a big surprise to me, but it is definitely welcome news.
I just wonder what the Apple haters are going to say to justify their mindless frothing that Apple would never do such a thing, because they're only interested in profit...
Dan Aris
Fun. Free. Online. RPG. BattleMaster.
I hope its just me being the cynical bastard I am but why do I have the funny feeling this money won't go towards improving conditions? I hope "splitting initial costs" means apple will be expecting some inkwork before they give over some money.
Despite being the most proactive when it comes to labor abuses, Apple will remain the primary target of critics who use Foxconn as a means to attack the company for personal reasons, even though Foxconn is not an Apple subsidiary and makes electronics for practically every major vendor in the industry, from Dell to Sony to Google. However, these other companies will receive no scrutiny.
Let me see if I have this straight... Apple and Foxconn are working to improve worker conditions - when they and their "independent audit" claim that worker conditions aren't bad in the first place, and the article that ignited the firestorm was discovered to be fiction?
Interesting.
You would think that with the 39 BILLION in profit, they would have opened/re-positioned that plant to gie jobs to the US,
But Noooo
That's good news. It's good to see a corporation spend a little more to ensure that it's workers are living good lives.
If only they had decided to spend a little more to ensure that local workers were living good lives.
Do honestly think Apple would be doing this if they didn't think it would increase their profit margin in the medium to long term at least?
Yes, some companies care about conditions of the workforce.
It wouldn't impact profits if Apple did not do this. They could easily have ignored the complaints and let it blow over, and continued to do the same thing to help chinese workers that the makers of whatever devices you prefer to use do (i.e. nothing).
The only return on Apple for this is felling slightly better about themselves.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
So the factories still will exist inside China, where human rights really don't matter. God forbid they spend those "several million dollars" in the US to open a factory and do the production stateside where human rights can be guaranteed.
I think this is great move by Apple.
I think we can all agree on this.
It also shows that they care about other things than profit ...
Well, that depends, doesn't it? I think this became an issue when "reporters" made it an issue and Apple surmised that it might affect their bottom line. Never mind that everyone else is likely just as guilty as Apple, they're the biggest target so it's up to them to make the first move. In the end, they're probably doing this so it doesn't cost them sales from the hippies.
... unlike *ahem* certain privacy violating company Mountain View that just decided to pack their packs and leave after they couldn't compete with Baidu.
There's so much wrong with this statement I don't even know where to start. Google has some privacy violations here in the United States but they're pretty mild compared to what the Chinese government does to its citizens and dissidents. By the way, that's why Google left (really was forced to leave) China as they refused to adjust their search results to comply with the Socialist party's orders in China. They were actually trying to stand up for the citizens and left in protest.
We haven't had such industrial revolution since the US started growing.
I guess I don't know what you mean by "the US started growing" but there are other nations, like Japan's Meji Restoration that were considered amazing industrial revolutions. History is peppered with nations each taking great strides to push themselves forward -- although they are not always pure of motive. Maybe you should check out the section on child labor.
It also shows that the hybrid socialist-capitalism system that China (and somewhat Europe too) has is a great strength compared to the US hard stance on pure capitalism.
I hate to break it to you but almost every nation runs on a hybrid socialist-capitalist system. Even the United States. We may have started closer to the Capitalist side but we're making "progress" to meet China halfway as they approach from the other side. I'm not even going to open that can of worms in this discussion but if you're interested you should check out pollution control laws in the United States versus China (Hint: China is very pure capitalism compared to the US on that one).
Having spent time the China and other places in Asia I must also say that the people are much nicer and reasonable. It is often impossible to deal with Americans, but Asian people still enjoy good old talk, socializing and being together. Also the cheer amount of their population and business culture, with a still relaxed life helps them.
Forgive me if I am mistaken but this feels suspiciously similar to the Chinese water army that is paid to frequent forums in support of something. Provide something measurable and we'll talk. Even a concrete anecdote about your vast experiences that give you credence to speak on behalf of all Americans. I can tell you right now that people in Minnesota are quite nicer than people in New Jersey. I'm sure China has the same dynamics.
I am more than interested to see this change in politics, and as I am already living in Asia (I moved here from Europe), stuff is about to get great soon.
You should read "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck, the Chinese people have never had it better! You say stuff is about to get get great soon and I think you're enjoying a Golden Age! I would, however, be interested to learn what European country you left that is in such a worse state than China.
My work here is dung.
Y could Apple not "invest" in US manufacturer? Maybe pay a company with better working conditions here in the United States to manufacture their parts?
Still not enough profit margin?
Guess I'm really old-fashioned, still an American trying to buy American, (when I can.)
Come on mods! Displays of mental illness like the above shouldn't be visible when browsing at 1.
I just wonder what the Apple haters ...
"Haters"
WTF is a 'hater'?
Oh wait I know - one who criticizes something that another is irrationally attached to. Like Apple fanbois who need to grow up and realize that Apple is just another multinational corporation that will exploit labor.
Anyone who uses the term "hater" is a fucking moron.
Ergo - danaris is a fucking moron.
Yes, they are going to ship them a couple thousand of their new product: iBullwhip
Even if only 1 out of 100 Apple Ipad customers were concerned about that, it would still be worth it. Apples customers are concerned about human rights or at least they think they are. They dont have to satisfy everyone but if they make 9 out of 10 concerned people satisified at a small cost that leaves 1 in a 1000 and they likely wont be satisified no matter what apple does.
Has twice the amount of bathrooms and now with running water!!
--- If the bible proves the existence of God, then Superman comics prove the existence of Superman.
If Apple was sincere about conditons for factory workers, they'd simply build their products in a country with enhanced worker protections, even if the cost was greater. Yeah, I've heard the argument that they'd never be able to make the iPhone anywhere else because the factories can't retool fast enough elsewhere. That's a bunch of bull. It adds cost and that's the real problem, right, Apple?
Why I'm ok with my Chinese manufactured iPhone/Pad
- or -
Apple/Foxconn worker and environmental exploitation rationalization worksheet
Check all that apply
[ ] Making iPhones in a Chinese factory is better than being a Chinese peasant
[ ] iPhones/Pads would cost too much if I had to pay my fellow citizens to make them
[ ] iPhones/Pads would cost too much given environmental regulations I vehemently insist on for myself
[ ] All the other manufacturers are doing it too
[ ] Some/Many/Most Chinese workers appreciate 70 hour weeks and breathing my aluminum dust
[ ] It's not Apple, it's Foxconn
[ ] It's not Apple, it's the Chinese government
[ ] It's just capitalism at work
[ ] It's just communism at work
[ ] Apple's disposable workers are paid better than non-Apple disposable workers
[ ] Apple's auditors didn't find any serious issues
[ ] Some day the Chinese will be too wealthy to exploit
[ ] Your Android is Foxconn too
[ ] You're an Apple hater using Apple as a scapegoat
[ ] I also work 60/80/100/120 hour weeks at my IT job
[ ] Apple designers are in the US
[ ] The US did the same thing to the British
[ ] The US had slaves once too
[ ] The US has prison labor today
[ ] It's up to the Chinese to stand up to their oppressive government
[ ] There are lines of willing workers outside Foxconn factories
[ ] If any company were to stop the exploitation, I really think it'll be Apple
[ ] Your free Linux runs on Chinese hardware too
[ ] Foxconn workers think they have it great, so it's ok!
[ ] Foxconn worker suicides are lower than Chicago's murder rate
[ ] We can't pollute the whole world!
[ ] Half of all US households have an Apple product
[ ] If we don't exploit them they'll never develop
Lurking at the bottom of the gravity well, getting old
Americans won’t take manufacturing jobs unless they’re very well paid, require little education or skill and have plenty of benefits. While those jobs used to be had in America long ago when steel and the auto were king, Americans now hand those jobs off to imported labor (Mexico and elsewhere) rather than do it themselves.
America does not have the infrastructure or manufacturing flexibility that China has now. A design change at Foxconn that takes a week would likely require months at an American plant. No sign that any American investors are willing to put up the funds or resources to match what China has now (and has been building up for decades) or set up the massive supply chains and shipping systems that Foxconn has access to now.
You don’t want those jobs anyway, the good jobs (design, research, software, marketing and yes even retail) are the ones you want and all those are already in America.
I am sure the rank and file labor view this as an execellant use of funds. What could be more ebenficial to the company the improving the working conditions for the PHB.s.
P.S. Anyone have equivalantly disdainful/derogatory ideograms for PHB?
There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
But no one has any sense of giving back to the community that made their success possible, so forget it.
Make any excuses you want for apple but the fact remains the people of China are not a free people.
Jack of all trades,master of none
Wanna bet much of the money will be in the form of a coverup? It's cheaper to coverup the truth than to fix it. Maybe more death threats to the employees that speak out? Bribe law officials to help as well? They'll do anything, but will stop short of threatening their profit margins.
Just BS to cover their image. If Apple really cared about workers, they would manufacture in the US or Europe. They don't care.
Well this is obviously a post by the Minnesotan lake water army. Come down to Newark and we'll knock your fucking teeth in for spreading those filthy lies. I don't know who this eldavojohn person is, but they're obviously a shill for those semi-Swedish a-holes.
*pulls his New Jersey to Minnesota Translation Guide off the shelf and blows the dust off it*
... ah ... Well, hello to you too, doenchya knoe! Why it sure is a fine pleasure to meet such a strapping orange colored lad like yourself! You just come back from a Charley in the Chocolate Factory production or something?
... "How's the fauwkin' weather ova there, ya fauwkin' prick? You look thirsty, can I offer ya some pop ... er ... fauwkin' yagga bawmbs?"
Let's see here
Oh, right, I need to translate this cordiality so that you can understand it
My work here is dung.
If they gave a fuck about the conditions of the workforce, they'd do their manufacturing in the US.
Some of the A5 manufacturing is done by Samsung in Texas.
The other parts they can't produce here, not enough scale.
Go ask the maker of your phone why they are not building here.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
China is stealing tech, how long before there is a cPhone? When they have stolen enough!.
Apple is a traitor.
China is out to destroy America; Apple is over there helping them to do it.
I see "Free Tibet" bumper stickers around.
We need Free America bumper stickers.
The US is becoming "The Eastern Province" Look around. Open your eyes.
Save your Homeland: Do Not patronize Apple
.
If apple wants to spend money, why not spend it on creating manufacturing jobs in the US and get out of China?
Suicide Nets around the building that stop you fully, rather that breaking your fall just enough so that you don't die but are still lame for life! Also, fresh air from above the septic field, rather than from above the engine test plant next door. Oh, and one more thing: only 60% of employee pay will go toward providing fresh gruel every day, instead of the 85% employees are charged for their daily gruel as the case is now. A happy employee is a 1200 calorie/day employee!!!
It might be possible to set up a Fair Trade label (like found in coffee, fruits, textiles, etc...) for electronics too. Then you could easily buy stuff that is known to be made in conditions that meet certain requirements. Hey, why not?
The World of Android Smart Phones http://www.androidiscover.com/