Ninth Foxconn Worker of 2010 Commits Suicide

Earlier this month it emerged that Foxconn had hired monks, councilors and exorcists to try to put an end to the spate of suicides. The company expressed its regret and sorrow for the victims, all aged between 18 and 24.

The latest victim was a 21-year-old man named Nan Gang. Gang is said to have jumped from a fourth floor dormitory about half an hour after finishing his shift last Friday night. The AP also reports that there was another suicide in January. A man jumped to his death at a Foxconn plant in Langfang in Hebei province. His death went unreported until Friday.

Suicide rates for China put the average number of suicides per 100,000 at 23. However, despite these statistics, the Guardian cites a Foxconn spokesperson that says the Shenzhen plant usually only experiences one or two in a year for the roughly 300,000 people working at the factory.

  • soo-nah-mee
    How many posts will it be before someone uses the term "Liberal" or "Conservative" and makes it political this time?
    Reply
  • gimpy1
    I don't mean to sound harsh, but given the national average, nine is not bad. We are a little over %39 of the way through the year. Assuming the plant employs 300k people, we would expect 27 suicides at this point.

    So, I guess I am wondering why this is news. When I first read the headline, I assumed that nine suicides was abnormally high. If it were high, I would take that into consideration next time I was shopping for some computer component. I think that the headline may be unfair to Foxconn as it seems to imply something is amiss.
    Reply
  • burnley14
    There are 300,000 people working at this factory? Only in China I guess . . .
    Reply
  • alentor
    lol this must stop.. xD
    Reply
  • gimpy1
    Thanks for the reminder soo-nah-mee, I almost forgot to blame the liberals for driving 300,000 jobs overseas. (It should go without saying, but I am being sarcastic)
    Reply
  • etrom
    Way to go, China! Keep your annual GDP growth close to 10% while lack education, health and proper work conditions for citzens.
    Reply
  • icepick314
    nice to know that my electronics are literally made from sweat, tears and blood...

    hope there are no spirits of disgruntled workers in my Zune and Xbox 360...
    Reply
  • Marco925
    icepick314nice to know that my electronics are literally made from sweat, tears and blood...hope there are no spirits of disgruntled workers in my Zune and Xbox 360...No, they're in your iPhone instead.
    Reply
  • SlickyFats
    Has anyone considered putting up a fence or wall or something else to prevent all of these people from jumping? Seriously don't make it so dang easy for people to just go jump, make them work for it and maybe during the time it takes them to make it up there they'll change their minds.

    Also how dedicated of employee must he have been, at least he finished his shift. I would have done it BEFORE work not after.
    Reply
  • tayb
    Wow. Did not know that Foxconn employed 300,000 factory workers. This all goes back to poor working conditions, long hours, intense pressure to meet deadlines, and low pay. The article I read referenced a pay rate of $130 (US) a month and a work schedule that allotted little time for anything but work and sleep. It was depressing reading it.

    Very sad.
    Reply