Apple's iPad is to die for? Literally.

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:



Concern over human cost overshadows iPad launch
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Thursday, 27 May 2010


The American electronics giant Apple was investigating damaging allegations last night that Chinese workers making its new iPad device were subjected to such "inhumane" treatment that some of them took their own lives by jumping off factory roofs.

Documents seen by The Independent reveal there are widespread failures by Apple's suppliers to respect standards on labour rights and safety specified by the company, which had sales of £30bn last year.

An update to the US firm's supplier codes in February revealed that a majority of its 102 facilities flouted its "rigorous" rules on working hours, which include a weekly limit of 60 hours a week – equivalent to 12 hours a day. Some 39 per cent broke rules on workplace injury prevention and 30 per cent broke guidelines on the management of toxic chemicals.

Audits uncovered violations involving child labour, falsified records and disposal of hazardous waste.

The company has been embarrassed by publicity surrounding 11 suicide attempts at the vast Foxconn facility near the southern boom city of Shenzhen, where the iPad is made, which threatens to overshadow the global launch of the touch-screen computer tomorrow. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/concern-over-human-cost-overshadows-ipad-launch-1983888.html

[ShortnFiery]

1. I'm glad that I didn't fall for the hype. My netbook is doing me just fine. eom

[onehandle]

2. Foxconn also produces for Dell, HP, Sony, Acer, Intel, Nintendo, Motorola, Cisco + many others.

Including the Amazon Kindle, Wiis, Playstations, Xbox 360 and hundreds of models of various cell phones and music players.

If you use any of these... Any electronics, you are supporting slave labor in China.