I have read (sorry, I can't remember where) that Apple uses Foxconn for manufacturing their products because... (paraphrasing) "If say, we are about to go into production of the iPhone 5 and we have only just now decided to add a new feature to the phone... Foxconn would most likely be able to put that new feature into production in about 6 weeks.  Whereas, if that same scenario were played out in by a manufacturer in the U.S. then, it would take 6 months to a year to put that same new feature into production.  Production changes in the U.S. take longer to put into action, due to expensive equipment changes, hiring personnel, and regulations imposed on the manufacturing process."

Some of those regulations that are supposed to protect the workers but they won't let that get into the way of making a quick buck. They care more about profits than the safety of the workers in China. They care more about the profits than having the work done in the U.S.A.

So in other words an 1Phone made in China by people who are little more than slaves will cost $40.00 US would cost, if made in the US of A, $400.00 USD? Yeah ... I could see where they might want to pay the little bit but still charge the 'Made in USA' price. Mooney ... money ... money.

Actually a 20 min piece on Canadian news last night as well.

There are 13 major US companies on that list of the top 25 companies at FoxConn. After serving this country for 22 years in the military, to see it end up like this is totally embarrassing. I am now ashamed to be an American, and if I could afford it I would leave today.

It pops up every now and then.  10 years ago it was Nike Shoes.  I think improved for them some when Duke students started protesting.

It would take a consumer boycott, but quite simply, for the social media crowd, Apple is a lower evil then social conservatives and extreme anti-competitive capitalism.

Also, it's a sign of economic recovery in a sense.  People start caring about others more when they're less worried about themselves.

Tom, companies like those are supra-national... nothing really to do with America per se or being American...

I'm very glad that you're American and both proud and grateful you served as you did.

The idea is to maximize the profit. If they could live with say, 2 billion profit instead of 6 billion profit, then they could pay the American workers more and yes the product would cost more too but it's all relative.

Apple and other companies say there aren't enough qualified workers in the U.S. That may be true but with the cost of college and I have seen people with a Masters degree waiting to apply for unemployment what sort of system is that? That's all bullshit. These companies wouldn't have their products made here if there were more than enough people qualified. They just say that to cover their asses.

Amen my friend.

Multinationals. They are American in name only. They hide their profits in overseas banks to dodge taxes. Their over riding concern is to make profit for their stockholders and damn the American middle class to hell.

The thing is the Fed is in cahoots with them. The multinationals actually get a better tax break by taking their production outside the U.S. What the hell kind of system is that?

'It' follows the money. Ten years ago, Apple wasn't front and foremost on the consumers mind. Nike, however, was making the big bucks and it's multi-million dollar endorsement deals were all over the news. Have you noticed you don't hear as much about those deals anymore? They are still being made with kids not even half-way through college. It's part of the standard contract as they make the jump to pro-ball. Nike got smart. Advertising those endorsements was almost as good as the endorsement itself. Now they keep it on the down low and probably have these kids sign something saying they will keep it on the down low as well.

Boycotts by the consumer will never happen when it comes to items that elevate their status, self-esteem (for whatever it's worth), can be justified as a necessity in any way, and excused because it is what it is. This is going to sound horrific but....the consumer will tolerate child labor. They use children to mine for diamonds for crying out loud. There are things that some consumers just don't want to know about because they would have to do something about it and that would just be an inconvenience. The government knows this and participates in this otherwise they wouldn't pass laws that determine the exact amount of rodent hair that is permissible to pass a health inspection at your favorite chocolate plant. If consumers won't boycott something for their own safety, why would they do it for anyone elses?

I don't believe it's a sign of economic recovery at all. I watched a news item about a family struggling to make ends meet, about to lose their trailer, utilities shut off, etc., etc. They have been on a downward spiral for years with the economy and unemployment. Then I saw the mother holding the latest model iphone. I kept waiting for the reporter to ask her how she planned on paying for the wifi coverage and internet minutes, etc., etc.

I think a lot of these people become 'concerned' because it's trendy and because they need to justify their existence. If they gave a crap, they would research the product BEFORE they purchased it but they don't because they WANT it and if they knew everything behind it they couldn't play ignorant anymore. These stories about Foxconn have been going around for years on the news (television, internet, print, radio).

Ignorance is bliss and the new economy is based on deprive and demand.

This from Apple is what the consumer WANTS to hear. It justifies the decision to them. If the majority of consumers gave a crap at all, they would respond with "Fuck that. We can wait 6 months to a year. Hell, we can wait two years if it means no one else dies so I can have an iphone.' 

You see what is happening here?

The consumer is the enabler.

Very true.

First off I would like to say, in case anyone thinks otherwise, I find the human rights abuses perpetrated by multinationals in China and other places deplorable. What they are doing is highly immoral. However I believe that the main problem here is not the multinationals but the governments that fail to protect or even abuse their people. Life sucked in China way before multinationals showed up, arguably much more. They are a symptom not the disease. The nature of competitive corporations is such that in order to compete and survive they must maximize profit. Thus you can end up with a race to the bottom. It is the job of government to pass laws that prevent corporations from hitting that bottom. The problem with globalization is that many governments are corrupt and don't care about their people.

The consumer is more then the enabler, he is the beneficiary. When competitive corporations manage to produce goods cheaper through innovation, or slave labor, they then sell their products to the consumer cheaper. Consumer standard of living is thus increased because their purchasing power becomes higher. They can afford to buy more because things are cheaper. The average American has benefited hugely from cheaper goods brought on by globalization.

I read an interesting article on why Apple only halfheartedly enforces worker rights in their suppliers. Basically the margin of profit they allow their suppliers to make is so low that the suppliers are constantly cutting corners. The only real way to enforce worker rights would be to allow suppliers to have higher profit margins, which would in turn reduce Apple's profits.

 Apple is not about to give up the profit they make. If they allow the supplier to have higher profit margins, Apple would have to charge more to maintain their own profit margins AND since these suppliers already know what they can get away with why in the hell would they not continue to try and cut corners.

The workers feel trapped. If they could go somewhere else for employment they would. Somewhere with better conditions and the whole nine yards or any kind of improvement at all. Apple knows that these suppliers have the workers by the short-hairs and they don't give a crap. They knew it going in. They have accountants and lawyers who do nothing but figure out where they can go to spend the least amount to have something manufactured, conditions be damned. 

Think about it. If you were only concerned with making as much money as possible and everything else be damned, do  you want to make the parts here in the USA or go to China. Not Mexico or Taiwan but China. China, where the government is getting a cut (which is why the suppliers profit is so small) and the government there will make sure it doesn't lose that revenue by policing the workers, restricting their access to outside influences, threaten them with arrest, harass and run off reporters, arrest protesters, and so on and so on. The one country that refuses to bow to international pressure and will cut down peaceful protesters like a drunk redneck with a .22 taking out beer bottles on his backyard fence. Apple has manged to outsource not just the production but some of the toughest, mindless, heartless security you could imagine.

Here's a little FYI - All tweets from Foxconn are being blocked (Twitter) now on wired nets.

Will Apple defend their freedom of speech or just acknowledge that in China they have none and it isn't their concern?

Apple respects all its employees rights to be blocked.
Apple respects all its employees right to remain silent.
Apple respects all its employees right to disapear

Edit: I thinks Thomas Jefferson also respected his slaves as well.

I love that they are being payed piece rate. I have worked for piece rate and been in management and had to set the times for piece rate. I can't imaging the stress and pressure they put on themselves not to go too fast and make sure new employees don't go to fast - along with the supervisors saying 'faster, faster'. It's gotta be a damn horror of a nightmare considering the hours and what they finally get paid.

Strictly speaking myfist0, they're Foxconn employees. Foxconn does not belong to Apple. It provides manufacturing services. I don't know if any of the contract clauses involve things like that. Clearly this is a problem involving the country of China. I think it's repulsive, but then they didn't ask me my opinion.

I think that what Po' had to say is correct in that if consumers said "NO!", then it would end fairly quickly. I also think the prices would go up, but so what? I doubt that would deter many buyers... unless it were made into a significant social movement. I wonder what would happen to those workers then.

I was just reading between the lines of http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/

Apple just opened everything to the FLA - http://www.fairlabor.org/fla/go.asp?u=/pub/mp&Page=NewsReleaseStat

I don't think you're being fair... Apple cannot control China's policies. As for Foxconn... id it is doing those things, then Apple should sever ties and let the market pay the difference.

They CAN control which country they outsource to. JUST like the consumer can vote with their pocket, SO can APPLE.

That's the kind of stuff I expect APPLE to use as an excuse.

There is no such thing as a free market... the consumer PAYS, and usually MORE than he/she should have to.

Also, where did you get this idea of "fair laws" in the so-called free market?

While there are 'some' consumer protection laws, the laws in the 'free market landscape are more one-sided, and come down heavily in favour of the seller/manufacturer/corporation.  The law, and has been for centuries, protects the rich/wealthy from the deprived... those they deprive

Does it make me worse than most if I'm willing to admit that I can't really be bothered by this? If I had a button I could press that would make all of the despicable slave labor stuff go away, I wouldn't hesitate a moment before pressing it, and I'm glad to see any of the corrupt fuckers to burn, but I accept that things are the way they are and that I exploit the lives of millions of people every day as I live in the western world. I'm not about to go out of my way to sacrifice my living quality for them. Emphasis on "out of my way"; easy and clear decisions to help out are no-brainers.

I also admit that I don't deserve this quality of life anymore than any of the workers at Foxconn deserve the misery they have. It's all about probabilities, and I've struck gold on that, and so have you guys. There's plenty of parts where I've been shit out of luck, too. It is what it is, and when I can make easy choices to help others out I take them. But as days go by, I don't really lose any sleep over this. The world is a tough place, and most life gets crushed before it has any chance to thrive.

starkers, when you get that pirate ship ready, come to Canada and pick me up. How would a crew of bruiser hockey players do ya?

And that's what they need to put on the t-shirts they should give out with all products associated with such conditions. It would make life so much easier and we'd all get a free t-shirt to boot. Maybe Kid-Rock could make the t-shirts?