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Apple Taking Action After Students Worked Overtime to Assemble iPhone X at Foxconn
Apple and its manufacturing partner Foxconn have confirmed instances of students working overtime to assemble the iPhone X, and both companies are now taking remedial action, as reported by the Financial Times.
A technician inspecting iPhone components at a factory
Apple conducted an audit and confirmed "instances of student interns working overtime at a supplier facility in China," according to the report. "We've confirmed the students worked voluntarily, were compensated and provided benefits, but they should not have been allowed to work overtime," it added.
Foxconn said that "all work was voluntary and compensated appropriately," but admitted that the interns "did work overtime in violation of our policy," which reportedly prohibits interns working more than 40 hours per week.
The statements from Apple and Foxconn come after six high school students told the Financial Times they routinely work 11-hour days assembling the iPhone X at Foxconn's factory in Zhengzhou, China.
Foxconn is believed to hire a significant number of seasonal workers each year to assemble the latest iPhone models in time for the busy holiday shopping season. The report, citing an anonymous Foxconn employee, said there can be up to 300,000 workers producing up to 20,000 iPhones per day.
As part of its supplier responsibility efforts, Apple requires its manufacturing partners like Foxconn to limit working hours to no more than 60 hours a week, with a mandatory rest day once every seven days.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple conducted an audit and confirmed "instances of student interns working overtime at a supplier facility in China," according to the report. "We've confirmed the students worked voluntarily, were compensated and provided benefits, but they should not have been allowed to work overtime," it added.
Foxconn said that "all work was voluntary and compensated appropriately," but admitted that the interns "did work overtime in violation of our policy," which reportedly prohibits interns working more than 40 hours per week.
The statements from Apple and Foxconn come after six high school students told the Financial Times they routinely work 11-hour days assembling the iPhone X at Foxconn's factory in Zhengzhou, China.
"We are being forced by our school to work here," said Ms Yang, an 18-year-old student training to be a train attendant who declined to use her first name for fear of punishment. "The work has nothing to do with our studies." She said she assembled up to 1,200 iPhone X cameras a day.The students, aged 17 to 19, reportedly said they were told that a three-month stint at the factory was required "work experience" that they had to complete in order to graduate from Zhengzhou Urban Rail Transit School.
Foxconn is believed to hire a significant number of seasonal workers each year to assemble the latest iPhone models in time for the busy holiday shopping season. The report, citing an anonymous Foxconn employee, said there can be up to 300,000 workers producing up to 20,000 iPhones per day.
As part of its supplier responsibility efforts, Apple requires its manufacturing partners like Foxconn to limit working hours to no more than 60 hours a week, with a mandatory rest day once every seven days.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Related Roundup: iPhone X
Tags: Foxconn, supplier responsibility
Buyer's Guide: iPhone X (Neutral)
[ 132 comments ]
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8 months ago
This is a problem with China, not Apple.
That's a ridiculous comment - Apple chooses to assemble its products there. They don't choose to do it anywhere else, including their own country, they choose to do it in a place where they know this does and will happen so they can save money. They enable it and therefore it's also their problem.
8 months ago
This is a problem with China, not Apple.
This is a problem for Apple, which chooses to have its manufacturing done in China and does not want its reputation and values sullied by child labor.It’s a bit unsettling knowing our iPhones could have been assembled by high school students. These kids must have some mad skills and a hell of a work ethic. It’s a bit intimidating that our own kids will be competing with these young people in an increasingly global economy.
8 months ago
Record profits. Apple is taking action yes, but they are also the company that will find another manufacturer if quotas are not met.
8 months ago
Good on Apple for taking action, and I hope this also gets the attention of Wisconsin. As for the situation in China, that school should be investigated and that teacher jailed but it probably won’t happen.
This is a problem with China, not Apple.
That's only half the story, Apple isn't innocent in all this. They're the ones putting pressure on the likes of Foxconn to manufacture x amount of iPhones. This gets fed down the system and it's ultimately the workers who pay with poor pay packets, unreasonable working hours and poor working conditions.
8 months ago
Good on Apple for taking action, and I hope this also gets the attention of Wisconsin. As for the situation in China, that school should be investigated and that teacher jailed but it probably won’t happen.
This is Apple taking action ->> "Mr. Foxconn, please don't do it again, or better yet, don't get caught, wink wink!"
The demand for the iPhone X was huge, who in their right mind thought that there wouldn't be of these stories?
8 months ago
This is a problem with China, not Apple.
And this type of toxic attitude is why we have the problems we have
Best part of all this? You don’t even work for Apple haha
8 months ago
This is a problem with China, not Apple.
Dear me. :oops:
They are a company that makes consumer electronics if your misguided love for them leads you to try and defend them profiting from child labour then you need to think about how that puts you across.
This is absolutely Apples problem.
8 months ago
Sounds good to me. Teaches those children properly. I get my iphone on time. Win win.
so edgy
8 months ago
Reality : China is the most richest contry in the world. USA has 20 trillion dollar debt.
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