Foxconn
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With the recent reveal of the working conditions in the Foxconn factory, questions of ethics arise. The Chinese factory is employing underage workers, and requiring long work hours. The stress of working in the demanding condition gets the best of some, resulting in suicides every year. It got to the point when in 2010 they installed suicide nets to reduce the number of casualties. Foxconn provides inexpensive electronics part to many of the U.S> based electronic companies. Questions on ethics arise when dealing with outsourcing of products. With the benefits of low cost, outsourcing in return result in lack of control over the manufacturing process. This includes the treatment of the factory employees. While companies have a choice on manufacture, large specialized companies have a harder time finding a company who can fulfill its demand. Foxconn is a large company with over 400,000 employees and was the most suitable to meet the manufacturing needs of Apple. While factory conditions should be considered, it is among the long it’s of factors that a company must consider when finding a suitable manufacture.
Foxconn is a manufacturing company in China. They contract with many electronic companies in the U.S., however they are still ran and operated in China. This mean they should follow the laws and regulations of China. Chinese labor laws state that the average work week should be no more than 44 hours, unless the company has other contracted arrangements. The video states that many companies will hide the conditions of their factory. This should be the major concern of the Chinese government. Apple has taken steps to improve the working condition of the Foxconn plant, but it will highly rely on the cooperation of the plant.
While the consumer of the products can have an effect and make a stand for fair treatment o manufacture, most will turn their heads. I recently surveyed a few close friend who all own iPhone. I informed them of the working conditions at the iPhone manufacturing plant in China and asked them how that made them feel. They all responded with concern and sympathy for the Chinese worker. When I then asked them if they would give up apple products, they all quickly responded no. Even though this is a rough survey, it shows how much technology means to us, and how we are willing to turn our heads on the problems. Since the problems don’t directly affect us, we tend to ignore them.
Chinese culture hold its citizen to the highest standards. In the plant they are expected to meet standards, and are shamed if they do not. These stresses lead to the