Apple’s Unkept Promises: Investigation of Three Pegatron Group Factories Supplying to Apple (Avy)

Labor violations at factory (3,000 employees) manufacturing exterior computer parts: forced labor; ID’s withheld for 3-14 days preventing workers from leaving the factory; hiring discrimination over age groups (above 35 years old) and workers with tattoos; discrimination against pregnant women;  insufficient training procedure; 12 hour daily shifts (~136 hours monthly overtime); work 20- 31  days month; unpaid 14 hours of monthly overtime; mandatory overtime; base wage cannot meet basic needs ($240.95); workers rely on overtime; 80% of employees work while standing; factory disposes cutting solution to sewage system; chemical hazard; injuries; dispatch workers don’t recieve social insurance; worker harassement and scolding if quota isn’t met.

The Dark World of Disney (Lam Sun)

Labor issues at toy factory: workers often work more than 60 hours/week; more than 90 overtime hours/month; age discrimination (bellow 40 years old); sex discrimination at assembly department; compulsory overtime; “wages are abysmally low” in injection, assembly and printing departments (8.7 RMB/hour or 1.3 USD/hour); often find foreign matters in their food, and leftovers will be resold in the next meal; workers are exposed to a variety of toxic chemicals without protective equipment.

The Dark World of Disney (Zhenyang)

Labor issues at toy factory: 12 hour daily shifts during peak season (May – October), 6 days/week; too low wages; base wage is insufficient to cover workers living costs; 8.7 RMB/hour (1.3 USD/hour); workers work with toxic chemicals; in assembly room no protection equipment was offered other than a work hat; during peak season, applications for sick leave hardly get approved; the training officer required all workers to check the “I’m willing to work overtime” option without asking them.

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (Kenseisha)

Labor concerns at factory (700 workers) producing aluminum cases for laptop computers: age discrimination upon hiring (16 – 35 years old); use of chlid labor (as low as 16); 12 hour daily shifts; during the off-season workers can get one day off per week; during peak production they only get one day off every two months; monthly overtime 85-150 hours; verbally abusive managers; use of equipment is not closely monitored; work-related injuries occur occasionally; base salary insufficient for workers to support themselves.

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (BYD)

Labor concerns at factory (30,000 workers) manufacturing electronics: age discrimination upon hiring (16 – 35 years old); use of chlid labor (as low as 16); as many as 12 hour daily work shifts; and as many as 30 days/month; verbally abusive management; workers regularly exposed to chemicals, radiation, and other occupational hazards with inadequate protective equipment; deafening and extremely hot environment; at least four work-related injuries reported in the laser welding workshop such as cuts or hands crushed by machinery; pay for most workers is calculated according to lowest local monthly salary (1,320 RMB = $209).

A Pegatron Worker Appeals to Boycott Apple’s Products

Worker accused electronics factory for ” blatant exploitation”: management got rid of food subsidies; the lowest wages paid were reduced to the bare minimum of 2,190 RMB; forced workers to pay the individual portion of social insurance.

 

 

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (Catcher)

Labor concerns at factory (~14,000 workers) manufacturing components for laptops, digital cameras, and mobile devices: age discrimination upon hiring (16 – 30 years old); use of student labor (as low as 16); 12 hour daily shifts; during peak season (April to December), workers get at most two days a month and may not have a single day off for an entire month; verbally abusive management; the simple face masks that the factory provides do not effectively prevent workers from inhaling metal dust; a thick layer of metal particles was evident under workers’ nostrils; safety training to new workers nor do they inform workers of the inherent risks of their occupations; workers need to work overtime to make ends meet; average monthly salary  is approximately 2,900 RMB (≈$460).

 

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (TOYO)

Labor concerns at factory (~1,000 workers) producing metal cases for laptops: age discrimination upon hiring (16 – 35 years old); use of student labor (as low as 16); 12-13.5 hour daily shifts; workers can only take off one day per month during peak season (monthly overtime may exceed 200 hours); verbally abusive management; workers complain over ‘overwhelming’ chemical odor; workers need to work overtime to make ends meet; average monthly pay is 3,000-3,500 RMB (≈$476-555).

 

Beyond Foxconn:Deplorable Working Conditions Characterize Apple’s Entire Supply Chain (Ri Teng)

Labor issues at (3) factory plants (~20,000 workers) specializing in producing cases for consumer electronic equipment: 11-12 hour daily shifts, 6 days/week on average; work 7 days/week during peak production (as many as 31 days/month); workers may not have a day off for months at a time; work may reach as many as 18 hours/day; verbally abusive management; dangerous working environment; very poor quality safety equipment, factory switches to better only during customer visit or audit; hundreds student workers aged as low as 16 year old; workers have to take overtime in order to make ends meet (base salary 1,280 RMB ≈$203).