Human Cost of Producing an iPad in China: Apple Consumer's Reactions

A recent New York Times report on the cruel working conditions inside Foxconn Technology, and other Apple suppliers in China, is getting a lot of attention.

The report says employees assembling Apple products often (pull quote) "Labor in harsh conditions…work excessive overtime, in some cases seven days a week, and live in crowded dorms…Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk."

Moreover, workers also face serious safety threats, sometimes deadly.

Two explosions caused by aluminum dust last year at two Foxconn plants killed four people and injured 77. Two years ago, 137 workers were injured after they were ordered to switch from rubbing alcohol to a toxic chemical, n-hexane, to clean iPhone screens. In recent years, there have been reports of workers jumping from dorm buildings in apparent suicide attempts due to harsh management practices.

[Masco Calbone, Tourist]:
"Safety comes first. Safety of workers comes first."

When asked if iPhone users would pay higher prices so that the Apple product assembly line workers would get better paid, we got similar answers.

[JP Robertson, NJ Real Estate Broker]:
“I would pay more for it. Sure.”

[Apbar Merchent, Retail Store Manager]:
“People just can’t live without iPhone these days, so I believe they’ll buy it. I would buy it.”

[Shani Ebin, NY High School Student]:
“I would definitely pay for the product.”

People also expressed that it's also the responsibility of Chinese authorities to protect the interests of the Chinese workers.

Apple says, the company has been conducting audits in the past few years to enforce the supplier code of conduct which lists the details from labor issues to health and safety protections.

According to the New York Times report, Apple conducted 229 audits last year. Although there were slight improvements in some areas, excessive work hours still continue.