Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware, Apple Financial, Apple
Apple looking into iPod factory conditions
My previous post about the conditions in iPod factories was construed by some as an attack on Apple. The sensibly that Apple, as a faceless multinational corporation, can do no wrong boggles my mind. Apple has one goal as a company, and one responsibility to its shareholders: make money. They make iPods (and Macs) in China because there is lots of cheap labor there. Not too shocking.With that out of the way, Macworld UK is reporting that Apple is now looking into these reports about the iPod factory conditions. Apple points to their supplier code of conduct (PDF link) which outlines what Apple expects from their suppliers.
[via iLounge]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
andy said 8:07AM on 6-14-2006
no articles about sony using the same company manufacturer and factories? nah, they use windows, why put out bad press about them.
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Pit said 8:29AM on 6-14-2006
Even if Apple knew this had been going on all this time, they’ll likely change it now in the interest of public image.
Which isn’t all bad really.
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John said 9:55AM on 6-14-2006
#1, are you seriously wondering why MACWORLD UK didn't do an article about Sony? Are you also implying they MACWORLD UK is part of a secret Anti-Mac conspiracy?
Furthermore, have you actually combed literature about sweatshops in the electronics industry and seen that there are no articles about Sony or are you just reading a Apple-related blog, seeing a story about iPods, and making an assumption that there are no other stories out there?
Another thing, if you really wanted to put an end to human-right abuses in manufacturing, wouldn't just make sense to focus on the product that has an overwhelming majority of the market share?
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jc said 9:56AM on 6-14-2006
"Suppliers may not discriminate against any worker based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, political affiliation, union membership, or marital status in hiring and employment practices"
Isn't the hiring 'mostly women because they are more honest' considered discrimination?
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David said 10:33AM on 6-14-2006
yeah, I would think that would be discrimination as well/
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alex hofstetter said 10:42AM on 6-14-2006
I do business with Chinese factories and sell goods to major customers here. The Apple Supplier code of conduct is pretty boilerplate. However, I assure you that these are enforced at the factory level. Each factory that I bring to a large customer in the US needs to pass all sorts of inspections before they'll even think about dealing with them. the major customers (Apple included) are petrified to be hauled over the coals on human rights issues. The most strict of all of them is WalMart.
Regarding hiring women: In the past 10 years over 100 million Chinese have migrated from the provinces to Shenzhen and the surrounding areas. Most have been women. Men stay home to take care of the extended family. The women work in manufacturing and send moeny home to help the family. This has literally been the largest human migration in history.
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Rory said 11:15AM on 6-14-2006
Not surprising. They'll pander to the press for a little while stating that they're concerned and they'll do everything in their power to change it, but when the press if off their backs they'll ignore the issue.
The only way for it to be solved it by either relocating to a country where the employment laws are tougher (not happening because Apple and co are only interested in profits) or by overthrowing the Capitalist system.
Socialism ftw.
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Jon said 11:38AM on 6-14-2006
I just noticed that the original article was by the Daily Mail, and it just lost all credibility for me.
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consumer_q said 12:18PM on 6-14-2006
Hello
"Apple has one goal as a company, and one responsibility to its shareholders: make money. "
Actually, the responsibility to the shareholders is for the company to do what their bidding.
I have owned stock in an upstart company that was trying to get market interest in Fair Trade products. I knew that I may never make money, BUT the company helped jumpstart the idea that quality products could be had for a reasonable price, while produced in a socially responsible way.
Making money is nice et al, but not all shareholders expect to make gobs of money. Some of us are willing to settle for less in order to have a more positive impact.
"I just noticed that the original article was by the Daily Mail,"
True. All the internets post about Apple's slave labour come from the same unreliable rag.
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Buthidae said 10:08AM on 6-15-2006
I think the word you're looking for is "sensibility". "The sensibly that Apple is..." doesn't make sense! :-)
Unless it's one of those crazy language things you American's do. Like aluminum - you crazy kids!
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