Foxconn Admits Violating Labor Laws with Underage Interns
Foxconn confirms reports that had underage interns on staff.
Foxconn has released a statement acknowledging that it breached Chinese labor laws by employing 14- and 15-year-old interns. The company told CNet in a statement that was conducting an investigation into how the underage workers came to work at Foxconn.
The company's statement comes in response to a report published by China Labor Watch, a New York-based non profit, that claimed Foxconn employed child labor during the summer of this year. CLW cites worker at the factory as saying interns under the age of 16 were working at the factory, a report corroborated by a Chinese radio show.
CLW says that a small number of student interns aged between 14-years-old and 16-years-old were sent to Foxconn by schools. Foxconn did not check the students' IDs to confirm their ages.
"The schools involved in this incident should take primary responsible, but Foxconn is also culpable for not confirming the ages of their workers," a statement on CLW's site reads. "China Labor Watch calls on the Chinese government to improve the current intern system of Chinese schools."
Speaking to CNet, Foxconn said the interns in question have been sent back to school.
"This is not only a violation of China's labor law, it is also a violation of Foxconn policy and immediate steps have been taken to return the interns in question to their educational institutions," the company is quoted as saying. "We are also carrying out a full investigation, in cooperation with the respective educational institutions, to determine how this happened and the actions that must be taken by our company to ensure that it can never happen again."
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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wemakeourfuture spentshellsThis is who apple does business with. I can see now why the stock is so high.Reply
You do realize their list of clients include: Samsung, Microsoft, Sony, Intel, HP, Dell, Cisco, Amazon, Motorola, Toshiba, Nintendo, etc.
Why are you just naming Apple, that's pathetic. Blame all of them or none.
You're sounding like an anti-Apple Stan. -
valcron This is who the majority of the IT field does business with. Not defending Apple but they get focused on way to much compared to other companies. You would think no one but Apple did business with FoxconnReply -
cats_Paw So what... they will pay a fine and run along with it. Its not like the owners of the company are gonna be trialed for this anyway... (im not trying to make it sound like it should not matter, just stating the fact that it dosent 8( ).Reply -
stingstang I'm willing to bet the radio show was taken off shortly after this erupted. Also, "Today in class kids, we're going to learn the most important lesson for us Chinese. Factory work! Everyone on the bus!"Reply -
L0tus It's appalling right? Yet there you all are ...typing away on your Foxconn-made electronic gizmos.Reply -
rantoc valcronThis is who the majority of the IT field does business with. Not defending Apple but they get focused on way to much compared to other companies. You would think no one but Apple did business with FoxconnReply
Many companies does indeed have business with Foxconn but I can fully understand why Apple is seen as the biggest offender, the reason is quite simple - They have the margins to make the change happen while many other company's are locked in quite fierce competition and don't enjoy the same margins. They would have a harder time to adjust unless their competitors also adjust.
See it like drug businesses, should the cops go after the regular dealer or the big time fish who makes the most out of peoples misery (much like in this case) ?