Fair Labor Association Says Apple Factories Are ''First Class''

Earlier this week, Apple announced that it had requested that the Fair Labor Association inspect its suppliers' factories in Asia. The move followed heightened criticism over how these manufacturing plants were treating the people that were assembling products from numerous big-name companies, including Apple. However, despite reports of worker mistreatment, it seems the staff at Foxconn enjoy above average working conditions. At least, that's what the Fair Labor Association says.

Though the agency will not be releasing full details of its inspections until sometime next month, the FLA has said that the conditions at the factories are better than those at garment factories or other facilities in China. Reuters cites FLA President Auret van Heerden as saying the conditions at Foxconn are "way, way above average." The head of the Fair Labor Association goes on to suggest that 'the problems' at Foxconn can probably be attributed to boredom and monotony rather than a high-pressure work environment.

"The facilities are first-class; the physical conditions are way, way above average of the norm," Heerden said. "I was very surprised when I walked onto the floor at Foxconn, how tranquil it is compared with a garment factory," he said. "So the problems are not the intensity and burnout and pressure-cooker environment you have in a garment factory. It's more a function of monotony, of boredom, of alienation perhaps."

Speaking of incidents of employees committing suicide, Heerden said that it's something Foxconn has been dealing with since the 90s. He says that the change from a rural lifestyle and leaving their families can be quite stressful for workers, and adds that the support employees need to help them deal with this drastic lifestyle change was not always in place because factories didn't initially realize it was needed.

Though the FLA speaks positively about the conditions at Foxconn, Reuters' report notes that FLA personnel used iPads during their inspections. In response to questions that the FLA may give Apple favorable reports, the non-profit organization said that the FLA system is "very tough" and involves unannounced visits, complete access, as well as public reporting. President Heerden dismissed the notion that Apple joined the FLA to counter the bad press regarding worker treatment. He said if Apple "wanted to take the easy way out," it could have chosen from a 'whole host of options' available.

The FLA will be releasing a full report on its inspections at Apple's suppliers and factories next month.

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  • house70
    *checking brand new ipad* "yep, I do not see any problem here, moving on."

    totally unbiased.
    Reply
  • freggo
    "way, way above average."

    Well, it all depends now on what the '"average" is based on, now isn't it :-)

    It could be like saying we pay more than the average worker (in rural Kentucky) is making.


    Reply
  • someguynamedmatt
    the conditions at the factories are better than those at garment factories or other facilities in China.
    There's your problem.
    Reply
  • rocknrollz
    I have a cousin who works at Foxconn. He has never complained about working conditions.
    Reply
  • cee2cee
    These inspections are not reliable. Everybody knows as soon as inspectors come, the Chinese factories put on a show for them and make everything seem nice while hiding the truth away. Obviously I'd trust anonymous workers actually there to tell the truth. After all, why would they kill themselves if they were just "bored"? Seriously Apple, nobody is deceived by this.
    Reply
  • Unolocogringo
    The FLA says nothing about actual working conditions. Just that working at Foxcon is better than working at other factories in "CHINA".
    They appear more like corporate PR personel.
    Reply
  • Envinyanta
    cee2ceeThese inspections are not reliable. Everybody knows as soon as inspectors come, the Chinese factories put on a show for them and make everything seem nice while hiding the truth away. Obviously I'd trust anonymous workers actually there to tell the truth. After all, why would they kill themselves if they were just "bored"? Seriously Apple, nobody is deceived by this.
    Given that the result is a factory that does better than other factories in China, is the Foxconn facility Apple uses the only one that 'puts on a show for inspectors'? Are all factories crap and Foxconn is the only one that cares enough to try and fake it? I don't doubt that there could be factors influencing the results and how accurate they are, but let's at least look at the whole of evidence rather than trying to color it to fit a predetermined perspective.

    As for suicide for being "bored", the article references monotony and a sense of alienation as well, and then goes on to explain it being rooted in a vastly different lifestyle then when they were raised. Given that teenage suicide in America is often due to feelings of insecurity, alienation, and listlessness, it doesn't seem all that unreasonable. It's still tragic; but people kill themselves for reasons that feel like very big reasons to them, even if they're not.
    Reply
  • jaguarmatt
    Hmm, so I guess Apple refuses to see that this was JUST published less than 2 weeks ago?
    http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Apple-Foxconn-factory-iPad-CNN,14643.html

    Of course their workers are treated like property, and it's a terrible thing. Just because they're "better than other factories in China" doesn't mean crap. Let me know when you've got some real improvement Apple.
    Reply
  • salgado18
    the conditions at the factories are better than those at garment factories or other facilities in China.
    So other facilities in China use slavers? Sorry, couldn't resist...
    Reply
  • gokanis
    Fair Labor Association Says Apple Factories Are ''First Class''

    Fair Labor rep under apple reps desk: "Hows that?"
    Apple rep: "Nice, but a little to the left."
    Reply