When looking at the back of an iPhone or iPad, what do you see? The obvious answer is that gleaming silver Apple logo on the device. However, where is that device made? Look at the far bottom of the device, you will see the words “Assembled in China”. Those three words sparked a seven-page report from the New York Times on January 15th. The report, which included interviews from various former Apple employees and workers, explained in detail about the working conditions at the factories that assemble Apple and other gadgets in China.
The Need for a Response
The report included interviews with the family of a former worker who subsequently died in one of the factories. The worker, Lai Xiaodong, died in an explosion in the Chinese factory, in Chengdu. When reading this report, several points came to mind. The first thought was that I must offer a response to this from the point of view of a person who has an admiration of the company. The various responses and comments on the report were individuals who advocated either a boycott or had no opinion on Apple at all. However, we must look at this closer and understand that Apple is not entirely at fault. We must also realize that it is not anti-Apple to show these issues as a top priority.
Pointing Fingers
When looking closer, we see that the company at hand is Foxconn. The New York Times report showed that when Apple approached the company at first for an exclusive partnership, Apple gave the company time to tell ”how much every part costs, how many workers are needed and the size of their salaries. Executives want to know every financial detail.” This allowed Apple to provide the supplier how much funds they needed to get the job done, something every company does when signing with a supplier. However, once a supplier gets such funds, it is up to them to see how they use the funds. Foxconn, in this case, cuts corners with their funds to, in the end, have more of a profit for Foxconn itself. This left Human Rights issues to be ignored by Foxconn. In the factories, the workers became exposed to dangerous chemicals. Outside of the factories, the dormitory conditions were beyond horrid.
What has Apple done about this?
I must say, Apple, may not be entirely at fault for these conditions. However, Apple still should do more about the issue. Apple’s recent Supplier Progress Report includes a list of their suppliers. The report consistently since 2007 has shown the suppliers they have added regulations to so, in the end, they can provide better conditions for workers. Apple has done their part to end contracts with several companies based on repeated violations. By providing better initiatives, Apple can combat these human rights violations. Why isn’t Apple doing more? The answer is obvious that it hurts production, which hurts profit. Foxconn is a key supplier to Apple, one of the largest suppliers of the company’s products.
Current and former Apple executives, moreover, say the company has made significant strides in improving factories in recent years. Apple has a supplier code of conduct that details standards on labor issues, safety protections and other topics. The company has mounted a vigorous auditing campaign, and when abuses are discovered, Apple says, corrections are demanded. (New York Times)
How should we respond?
It is crucial to note that various other companies, including Amazon, HP, and Nike, use foreign workers and there have been many allegations of suppliers not considering human rights. When we look outside of the tech realm, various clothing companies have experienced sweat shop allegations for years. The mistreatment of animals in the meat industry has been a pivotal issue for some time. However, when we look at ourselves, we see that we still purchase from HP, we still wear clothes from these companies, and only 3-6 percent of Americans are vegetarian/vegan.
We should not boycott Apple. A boycott only creates losses in jobs for not only Chinese workers, but also American workers in Cupertino and beyond. Apple is an exceptional company, and I do not feel this is an issue we should abandon Apple. We should take this as a time to press Apple to continue their efforts on tackling the abuses from their suppliers. The Supplier Responsibility Progress Reports show us that their effort still continue. This is not a biased opinion, but a fact of a dominant company. Everything will not be peachy and exciting. Things will always need improvement in this industry. We must remember that Apple is not perfect.
