Suicides Spark Inquiries

13 suicides from the beginning of the year have been recorded at digital products factory (~820,000 workers); 10 deaths; 3 failed attempts. Many workers suffer from excessive stress and exhaustion,  caused by military-style rigor, repetitive work and long hours over the legal minimum. Worker wages (900 RMB per month) is deemed insufficient to cover basic living expenses in their home city, and thus workers have no choice but to work massive amounts of overtime.

After Suicides, Scrutiny of China’s Grim Factories

19 year-old worker (Ma Xiangqian) at factory producing electronics leaped from high floor to his death. The month before his death he worked 286 hours (including 112 hours overtime, three times the legal limit), and got paid ~$1 per hour.

Reports of Suicide in China Linked to Missing iPhone

25-year-old male Foxconn employee commits suicide after being interrogated about missing prototype for new iPhone. Some report that, shortly before his death, he had been detained and beaten by senior official in Foxconn security department.