As a way to battle against the bad publicity it received with regards to the poor working conditions in its workplace, Foxconn opened the doors to its huge factory in China. The company is China’s largest exporter that employs thousands of workers for $1.78 an hour to manufacture Apple iPhones and iPads. According to reports, 18 suicides were already committed by its employees due to work related stress.
Aside from Apple, Foxconn also makes electronic devices for Dell, Sony, HP, IBM, Toshiba and more. Despite the reported deaths, the suicide rate within the company is still below China’s national average. But people have criticized Apple and Foxconn, especially when Apple’s stock has soared to new record highs.
As a way to counter the growing public relations nightmare, Apple allowed ABC’s Nightline to get inside the factory and take a tour of half a dozen production lines in Chengdu and Shenzhen. The video will be aired on Tuesday at 11:35 p.m. Nightline Bill Weir said that he showed a Foxconn assembly line worker a collection of photos on his iPad and he was surprised to find out that the employee hasn’t seen one working before.
The Fair Labor Association announced that it would launch an independent investigation on Foxconn after Apple joined the trade organization last month. According to FLA president Aurent Van Heerden, a Foxconn factory he visited was one of the better ones in China.
