New revelations about working conditions in Chinese factories. According to the American Chinese organization Watch Labor (CLW), the workers of the main iPhone factory in Zhengzhou continue to work in precarious conditions, despite the repeated Apple commitments.
The report, published on Thursday and revealed in the Financial Times, denounces excessive hours, delays in payment, as well as persistent discrimination against certain ethnic minorities and pregnant women.
The six -month survey, conducted by infiltrated people and more than one hundred interviews, highlights the massive appeal for temporary workers: more than half of about 200,000 employees in high season would be a matter of this status, despite the fact that Chinese law limits its participation to 10 %.
Temporary workers and discrimination
These temporary workers are subject to salary deductions that dissuade any resignation during peak production periods, and deprived of advantages reserved for permanent, such as illness, medical coverage and retirement contributions. CLW also denounces systemic discrimination in hiring, certain recruitment agencies that dismiss the requests of ethnic minorities, especially uigures, tibetan and host or pregnant women.
For his part, Foxconn claims to be an “employer who guarantees equal opportunities” and ensures that he has multiplied independent audits in the last two years to demonstrate compliance in social and environmental matters.
Apple said that “he immediately opened an investigation” after being informed of the conclusions of the report, reaffirming his “attachment to the strictest standards at work, human rights, the environment and ethical behavior.”
Conditions considered “comparable” to those of other factories
CLW’s findings are “partially corroborated” by an investigation by the Financial Times in the field, which interviewed several workers and recruitment agencies in Zhengzhou. While certain testimonies confirm the persistence of discrimination and salary pressures, others describe the conditions considered “comparable” to those of other local factories, citing problems related to the air conditioning, hot water or even the canteen subsidies.
In a context of economic slowdown and high unemployment among young people, many workers are still forced to accept these works … even if that means working in Foxconn due to lack of alternative.
Source: BFM TV
