Apple has cut ties with a Chinese supplier after an audit found that it employed underage workers.
During one of its audits of Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics, Apple found that the supplier employed underage workers to work in its factories. Apple immediately broke its relationship with the supplier and reported it to Chinese authorities.
74 underage workers were working there and they were all under 16 years of age. They were supplied by a recruitment company, Shenzhen Quanshun Human Resources Co Ltd, which has since had its business licence revoked by the regional government due to the findings.
The iPhone maker managed to discover the practice after discovering several fake age verification documents. Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics was fined and were ordered to secure the transport for the underage workers back to their homes. Other firms who work with the supplier have followed Apple in launching their own audits into the firm.
"We go deep in the supply chain to find it," Apple senior vice-president of operations Jeff Williams said. "And when we do find it, we ensure that the under-age workers are taken care of, the suppliers are dealt with."
Foxconn, Apple's main supplier for its products, previously admitted to violating labor laws by employing 14 and 15-year-old interns.
