Filed under: Apple Corporate
Death of Foxconn worker puts supplier back in spotlight
The story, at first, sounded like a wild Internet rumor -- 25-year-old Sun Danyong, an employee with Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn (also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.) leaped to his death following the disappearance of an iPhone prototype. It seemed somewhat far-fetched -- after losing the prototype, Danyong supposedly had his apartment illegally searched, and he was reportedly treated roughly by Foxconn security personnel.
But on Tuesday, Apple released a statement to CNET acknowledging Danyong's death without providing any additional details. "We are saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death," Kristin Huguet told CNET. "We require our suppliers to treat all workers with dignity and respect."
This is not the first time that Foxconn's treatment of its employees has come into the spotlight. In 2006, Chinese reporters alleged that the company was not following labor laws, and the company subsequently admitted it. Apple's investigation at the time revealed some issues, but found the company mostly in compliance with its supplier responsibility standards.
There is incredible pressure from suppliers to retain business from high-profile companies -- like Apple -- who not only attract a lot of money, but prestige as well. Knowing how highly Apple values secrecy in the product development process, manufacturing concerns fear the loss of business if a leak can be pinned on them. For an NSFW but surprisingly insightful take on the tragedy, take a look at today's post from Fake Steve Jobs (Dan Lyons).
As reported in the Wall Street Journal, Chinese media is blaming Foxconn's management for Danyong's death. Given the information available, however, it does not appear that Apple was directly involved in this case. The case has been handed over to Chinese police for further investigation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
me said 7:31PM on 7-22-2009
does this mean there is a new iphone coming?
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Sparks said 7:36PM on 7-22-2009
There is always a new iPhone coming. They can't develop the next version instantaneously, so usually by the time one device is out they're at least working on prototyping the next one. Usually, you end up making some prototype devices -- limited test runs -- so that the developers have actual hardware to work on, rather than just simulators.
So this doesn't necessarily mean new hardware is imminent; Apple seems to stick to doing new iPhone releases in summer, after all. And with the 3GS only just out, if this was a prototype for a hitherto-unseen iPhone doubtless the device is targeted for /next/ summer.
Edsel said 8:03PM on 7-22-2009
He was probably thrown from the building. China is a communist country and can pretty much look past human rights abuses.
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Brendan said 5:25AM on 7-23-2009
This has nothing to do with communism -- rather, it's the runaway criminal capitalist system that's obtained since China introduced uneven economic reforms that allows a for-profit company (Foxconn) to treat its employees like this.
Edsel said 10:13AM on 7-23-2009
China practices a top-down, tyrannical form of government managed by Communist Party of China (CPC). They alone, have the power to control their country's capitalist development through the CPC. In the last ten years they have summarily executed company executives for publicly embarrassing China's ruling elite and will do so again if bad publicity tarnishes China's image. Will the CPC punish corrupt and abusive Chinese executives if company "management" techniques are hidden from public scrutiny? Of course not!
The CPC will not clamp down on their free market greed because it has become a monstrous revenue stream for their government. They are abusing free market capitalism to acquire immense financial power to dominate markets, and they have done this at a very alarming rate. So the short answer to the question, will another Foxconn "suicide" happen again? You bet it will.
samu said 2:01AM on 7-23-2009
I hope Apple do look very closely into this. If allegations of torture turn out to be true, they need to be prepared to sever ties with Foxconn. Otherwise, I'm out; I'm not going to keep buying from a company that's prepared to overlook this.
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sharris said 3:15AM on 7-23-2009
Same here, the loss of a single life vastly outweights any need for gadgets. I love my iPhone, but if I found out someone was basically indirectly murdered for it to be created, and the Apple did nothing, I couldn't bring myself to use it let alone buy another.
I really hope Apple will do what we all know is the right thing to do, & prove that they value life over money, exactly the reverse of what foxconn gas shown.
Sorry if that sounds strong, but at the end of the day if this is all true & foxconn really did cause this, that's what it comes down to - money or life. Make the right choice Apple.
Karen LH said 8:56AM on 7-23-2009
I'm inclined to agree. Apple could possibly pressure the company into making some changes if they were to threaten to pull their business.
msr said 9:13PM on 7-23-2009
I agree. As much as I love Apple products (and I do- I've been recommending them to everyone I know since 2001) I will never buy or recommend an Apple product again until they drop the book on Foxconn and sever all ties with them. It's bad enough that we have a system that takes advantage of human life in foreign countries for our reduced prices. I can't have my money being spent to make it any worse.
Joshua said 4:58AM on 7-23-2009
This factory is too big and too rich to let an "investigation" get in the way of business. A simple payoff to the local police will clear the factory and everyone will go about there business. This is how China works and how it will always work....and i know b/c I have been here for 5 years.
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samu said 7:44AM on 7-23-2009
Easier with Western attention on them and Western clients to placate to allow an investigation to go ahead, and find scapegoats among lower management; this already seems to be taking place, with at least one suspension. They'll realise that the "few bad apples" scenario is more persuasive than "nothing to see here".
Besides, it's not the local authorities they need to persuade, but hopefully Apple, who are not without resources themselves, and could make it clear that obstructiveness or an evident cover-up would be read as a sign of guilt. Much depends on Apple's willingness to ignore this, and that depends on our willingness to let them.
SIP said 8:28AM on 7-23-2009
That Fake Steve Jobs link hits the nail bang on the head. Unless we change our lifestyles and curb our desire for new tech, something like this is going to happen again.
You can't blame Apple for what happened, but Apple is the reason this is getting so much coverage.
If the lost/stolen prototype was meant for a Chinese "genuine fake" manufacturer, this death is going to at least mean that the prototype is, to some extent, useless.
Interesting comment from another forum: apparently, in some Far Eastern cultures, literally falling on your sword (or jumping off a building, in this case) is the way to restore lost honour, whether you were innocent or guilty.
If only some of our own would follow that example...
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beanpole said 10:16AM on 7-23-2009
Well then. Since someone mentioned it...
I think you can definetely blame Apple, in part of course, for this incident.
I remember reading the stories published (was it in the NYT?) on the development of the iphone: slamming doors, screaming people into corners, verbal humilliation... and this happened in California, to engineers.
Before there was a death involved, this was really the disappearance of an iphone version 4 prototype. Noone can imagine the pressure Foxconn must have felt. A good amount of this pressure was passed onto the young worker, but the origin of that pressure is Apple.
And also, this suicide to restore dignity of the far Eastern cultures argument is just insulting to read. Can someone who is Chinese say something about this? I find it hard to believe it is something "normal"and within their culture to act like this, in 2009.
Alan Carr said 1:55PM on 7-23-2009
Beanpole, what SIP says is factually correct.
One source (with, of course, links to additional sources:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_views_of_suicide
kreilein said 11:29AM on 7-23-2009
Really think that this is "Apple specific" or a "China thing" or a "new technology thing"? Really? Are you nuts? This isn't capitalism vs. communism or any of that crap at all.
I'm not saying it's right by any means, but it's business under any form of government or economic ideaology. That's how it's done in any field where you have to actually produce some kind of result. Doesn't matter if you're making iPhones, transmissions, pharmaceuticals, or mapping the human genome - and I'm an employee in one of those fields so I speak from experience. You either produce and do it right, or the screws are put to you until you either do it right, quit, or screw up enough to get fired. That's the way it goes.
If the loss of a human life due to pressue and intimidation of this type forces you to cast away the things that have come at this price, then you might as well just sit in your house and stare at the wall. Wait, can't sit in your house, someone had to make the materials, appliances, etc. and assemble it all. OK, head to an open field that hasn't been developed yet and live there with no electricity or running water, but make sure you don't use a road or car or bike to get there :-)
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samu said 7:53PM on 7-23-2009
"You either produce and do it right, or the screws are put to you until you either do it right, quit, or screw up enough to get fired."
So far so good. "Screw up enough to get tortured and thrown off a roof" (if that's what happened) is a step or two beyond that.
msr said 9:13PM on 7-23-2009
You are a very pathetic excuse for a human being.
anlima said 9:31PM on 7-24-2009
Not follow labor laws, bring Sun Danyong death, foxconn is black factory, suggest Apple afresh select supplier.
BTW, I recommend favorite DVD&Video tool - iFunia, http://www.ifunia.com
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sophia said 11:42PM on 7-28-2009
I love kinds of well designed products, such as iPod, iPhone and Mac book. it's better to pay more attension to human rights than products, even there's high pressure from apple to Foxconn.
For more freeware of apple products, I recommend Leawo, easy-to-use and totally free. http://www.leawo.com
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