Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits Foxconn, Conditions to Improve

Apple CEO Tim Cook is on a visit to China, which wouldn't be complete without a visit to Foxconn – the company responsible for the production of much of Apple's products.

Cook reportedly paid a visit to the newly built Foxconn Zhengzhou Technology Park -- which employs around 120,000 people -- in the north central province of Hebei.

The Cupertino company has been under fire of late over the working conditions of Foxconn workers who produce the millions of iPads that get sold worldwide. It appears now that Tim Cook is taking action with Foxconn to make things better.

According to Reuters, Apple and Foxconn have agreed to "clamp down on illegal overtime, improve safety protocols and upgrade worker housing and other amenities." Doing so will require the hiring of tens of thousands of new workers.

Foxconn said that it will limit the weekly work hours of its workers to 49 per week, including overtime, while keeping the same wage. This is a reduction from a report that found workers putting in more than 60 hours per week on average during peak production times.

Such changes will inevitably drive up the costs to produce products at the Foxconn factory, though the full impact may not be directly passed on to the consumer as companies such as Apple and HP may absorb some of those increased costs.

(The images that appear here were released today from Apple Inc.)

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Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • plznote
    A part of me knows that this is a good thing. But it'll never happen. Humans are just too greedy.
    Reply
  • mister g
    Such changes will inevitably drive up the costs to produce products at the Foxconn factory, though the full impact may not be directly passed on to the consumer as companies such as Apple and HP may absorb some of those increased costs.

    RIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!
    Reply
  • koga73
    How many times have we heard this before?!
    Reply
  • koga73
    How many times have we heard this before?!
    Reply
  • chumly
    I think it would be an amazing thing if the greedy people started being responsible for the people that make them their money. In the long run, I think people would be happier to buy products from companies that they know are a benefit to their planet and community.
    Reply
  • Plasmid
    How about bringing them jobs back to America. Do that and I'll consider buying something from you. I can't stand the fact everything has to be made in China.
    Reply
  • husker
    And what is anyone else doing to help the conditions of workers in China? < sound of crickets chirping>
    Reply
  • xerroz
    Will eagerly wait to see a $100 price increase on all of Apple's products
    Reply
  • This just in. Apple stocks finally start falling.
    Reply
  • freggo
    PlasmidHow about bringing them jobs back to America. Do that and I'll consider buying something from you. I can't stand the fact everything has to be made in China.

    How much extra are you willing to pay for 'Made in USA' ?

    100%...200%... ?

    It's easy to talk tough as long as you do not have to back it up with your own wallet !!
    Reply