Loophole in ‘employee’ definition allows ‘forced interns’ at Foxconn
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While the FLA’s report concerns itself with employees of Foxconn, there is another type of worker who doesn’t fall under that category – student interns. Under Chinese law there is no employment relationship between the factory and the interns, making it near impossible to regulate conditions for students.
Debby Cheng, project officer of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (Sacom), said of the FLA audits, “The gross violation of forced internship was not addressed at all. They tried to water down the problem."
Sacom claims that students from all disciplines are send to Foxconn, not for relevant job experience or training, but just as additional workers, particularly during holiday periods. Many of these students’ internships last 3 to 6 months and are often filled with 10-hour days and seven-day workweeks.
Compounding the problem, many students claim that they are at Foxconn against their will. China Daily ran a story in which it reported students from a vocation school in Zhengzhou where only told 9 days before the start of their internship that them must leave “as ordered by the provincial government.” Anyone that refused was told that they had to drop out of school.
The FLA did find that Foxconn hired an average of 27,000 interns a month with an average stay of three and a half months. It also said in its Apple audit that it found the hiring of interns to be “the source of much controversy” and of “major concern to external stakeholders.”
While the FLA recommended that, moving forward, intern’s jobs be related to their fields of study and their work be limited to no more than 8 hours a day for five days a week, the FLA did conclude that the employment status of interns “remains vague and represents a major risk.”
Sacom, which was originally setup by Hong Kong academics to drawn attention to plant conditions at facilities that manufactured toys for Hong Kong Disneyland, is expanding to focus on the rising concerns occurring in the electronics sector. In March, it issued a letter to Tim Cook explaining its findings and calling for a stop to this “form of involuntary labour.”
source: TheGuardian
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41 Comments
1. taco50 (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:11 2 14
The trolls will have a field day with this. Remix andro, commence with the blood on your hands comments.
Please continently ignore that Foxconn makes products for many major companies including products you two use.
3. ZEUS.the.thunder.god posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:18 9 1
go back to your mama kiddo. we are discussing serious business here.
6. TROLL.ISAHA (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:26 1 0
TACO50 LUCIFER OV APPLE And he is proud and apprizes that........
9. ibap posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:33 1 0
I love posts that are obviously typed on touch screens with auto-correct and people don't review them before sending. "continently"?
16. remixfa posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:03 5 0
you got that right buddy.
think you dont have blood on your hands because your mommy buys your electronics for you?
I know you would like to have people THINK you were gone while you were banned and havent used 10 other names which all got banned, but I know that you know the issue of foxconn and other companies has been brought up 1000 times. Its been well versed. Your wrong, like usual.
So how do u feel now that you are trolling under your own name for once?
18. remixfa posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:05 5 0
BTW, what kind of heartless moron doesnt think that kids going to college and being told by the college that if they dont go work in slave conditions for 3 -6 months or they will be permanently booted from college is an OK thing to do? We arent talking about a few students, we are talking 20k a MONTH.
And in china, when your fired or kicked out, you are permanently blacklisted by all companies in the area.
21. taco50 (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:09 1 13
I don't think it's ok. I think your a hypocrite because you bash Apple and continue to use products made in Foxconn factories.
23. remixfa posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:15 9 0
which products do i currently buy from foxconn, taco?
33. biophone posted on 02 Apr 2012, 14:08 0 0
My problem is i realize apple has terrible working conditions but so does everyone else. Why are we drawing the line at where what apple is doing is wrong and what everyone else does is fine. The line should have been drawn way above the standards of all phone makers. I don't approve of apple's actions in any way but I am applaud but everyone else as well.
34. Mandroid posted on 02 Apr 2012, 14:13 2 0
Because f*** apple. That's why.
27. AndroidTroll posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:44 0 0
PA is boring without Taco. Even his name is funny. Welcome back!
28. tluv00 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:52 1 0
"Please continently ignore that Foxconn makes products for many major companies including products you two use."
You meant conveniently right?
That is true. What is also true is that Apple has chosen to make themselves the face of and the saviors of Foxconn and this whole mess. They brough in the auditors. They are making public visits. They are the ones who where saying that "nothing was wrong" and now you want people to not say something after all of that?
They are also Foxconn's largest client and are on record stating that they care about all employees in the supply chain and also that they do audits themselves.
This will do nothing to harm Apple either. They could kill children in public and drink their blood and people would still buy their products.
38. Sniggly posted on 02 Apr 2012, 18:46 0 0
So rumors of your death are greatly exaggerated?
Funny how you start right back in with your nonsense. Anyone who has ever worked in or had parents who work in manufacturing knows that conditions can vary widely from plant to plant, even in the same company. How come none of the violations being reported are shown to have to do with the plants that make products for companies other than Apple?
2. cripton805 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:12 13 4
F#$% Apples CEO. I will try my best to avoid Apple products.
22. TROLL.ISAHA (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:11 5 3
What's it to you gallitoking??????
Can you not handle or face the truth!!!!!
Are you scared that fandroids or other's Segregates you?????
Are
29. gallitoking posted on 02 Apr 2012, 13:06 2 6
just saying if you hate hate.. no one has you here.. is simple.. not exactly sure what truth you are talking about.. but ok.. I dont watch sci fi movies.. sorry..
36. cripton805 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 18:08 3 2
Just to let you know, I don't hate the products. I just don't like their business practice about hyping up their products and calling it revolutionary. Kind of like "Siri". My old phones used to have voice recognition and read outs for years. I might enjoy their product if I was 5' and had I had tiny little petite hands, but I could very easily use any device with one hand and a 4"-5" screen.
Not to diss Apple, but I'm just stating a fact. Sure there are flaws with every phone, but I'm tired of all the iFans making Pros out of the Cons and making silly excuses. The iPhone is a great phone, but it Isn't God sent and only comes close to some of Androids mid-end phones. Sometimes I feel that websites only review iPhones so high because they are scared that the iFans might backlash. I have found that while Android phones are getting negative reviews for a tiny 4" screen and poor battery life "that matches the iPhones battery life" are never mentioned as cons for the iPhone. Features that are missing that are very common on most phones nowadays. Most of the hype is created by Apple and create a mental thought that they "think" they have the best as their commercials and advertising make them believe. It's all an illusion.
37. gallitoking posted on 02 Apr 2012, 18:40 2 0
but why you care so much couldn't simply not buy their products and that's it.. let other find out for themselves or respect their decision on cell phone... besides I don't see why you trip on specs.. Android is not Apple and vice versa.. things are differently in Apple.. respect... just because 4 inch screens came out doesn't mean everyone should jump on it.. people still need need 3'5 screen and may even not buy the iphone if it goes bigger screen... do you do this to al products you don't agree on how they market their product?...
35. stealthd posted on 02 Apr 2012, 17:41 1 4
I'm kind of amazed such stupid comments not only get posted here, but up voted.
News flash: Apple isn't personally responsible for Foxconn, but they're the only ones trying to improve it. Now you think they're responsible for Chinese labor laws too? Amazing.
4. jmoita2 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:23 9 2
Evil scumbags. I wish all Apple users can come back as Chinese slave workers in their next lives. And Taco50 as well.
7. TROLL.ISAHA (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:30 4 4
Jmoita2 lets pray for them.... GOD full-fills our wishes!!!!
They should all go to ifernal brimstone......
11. TROLL.ISAHA (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:35 7 3
And you forgot his companions+
Chack
gallitoking
chris jerico
taco50
Darkjedi
the legend
CMpunk
have i missed any1 else?
The original Apple die-hard fans.....
17. gallitoking posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:03 2 7
you guys must be important people to be wishing like that... have a pact with the devil or something?...
24. TROLL.ISAHA (banned) posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:18 5 2
It's contemplative and circumspection....
It's you and apple and your convoys who are!
Are you compunctious to concede?
30. gallitoking posted on 02 Apr 2012, 13:39 2 5
and your wishful thinking is not?
19. Mozarrt posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:06 3 4
Apple users go to Foxxcon, Android users end up at Compal, or some other Chinese factory.
What is the difference? Oh wait, you just want to bash Apple.
25. Lucas777 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:19 2 4
just apple? im sure u own something made in china... if not good for u but u r either extremely wealthy or extremely sparse.. in which case u r condemning people for trying to live a "normal" lifestyle...
5. Skidro13 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:25 2 5
These interns are better paid than the majority of the interns in the US... They might be forced to do this, but I would rather be forced to work for money than intern here for free.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/04/02/foxconn-interns-are-better-paid-than-most-american-interns/
8. jmoita2 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:31 6 1
Skidro,let me email you directions to the nearest People's Republic of China embassy. I'm sure they will gladly issue you a permanent visa to become an "intern" in a sweatshop. Be careful what you wish for...for you may just get it.
15. Skidro13 posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:02 1 5
I'm not in college to work in a sweat shop. These people are in vocational colleges. They are training to work factories just like this. Their internship is a very good representation of exactly what they will be doing for the rest of their lives
10. ibap posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:34 4 0
There aren interns, and there are co-ops - and no one in the US gets shipped out to a destination determined by someone else and told they will have to drop out of school if they don't.
40. Gusto posted on 02 Apr 2012, 21:34 1 0
Here mate, i will give you a synonym of "forced labor": slavery.
If you prefer that condition, it is up to you.
12. PAPINYC (limited) 3 days ago posted on 02 Apr 2012, 11:37 5 2
This is true and iHope the FLA does something to regulate the treatment of iNterns at Apple Factories. Last year, while finishing my studies abroad, I did an iNternship at one of the Assembly Factories working for free for the EviL EmpiRe; I worked 96-hour shifts and never even got a coffee break. When iComplAined, iWas stripped naked, iWhipped and forced to submit to a cAviTy seArch.
No one intervened. I tried to call for help on one of the many iPhones but, unfortunately and surprisingly, there was no available iWiFi network I could use.
26. Mozarrt posted on 02 Apr 2012, 12:23 4 5
I actually really can't be bothered about where my products are made. Half my clothes were propably made in some sweatshop in India or Bangladesh, The beef I eat comes from some ranch in South America where they are currently destroying nature to provide food for the cows.
My Smartphone?, probably some factory in some crappy chinese town, who cares. Better working in some factory, than being unemployed I guess. Foxconn is actually quite good with their salaries, so I can't believe its a living hell.
31. networkdood posted on 02 Apr 2012, 13:40 2 0
Certain minerals are mined in Africa - minerals that make up components of smartphones - these minerals are highly sought after - so much that wars break out over control of these mines.
No matter what you own, more than likely someone died for you to get it.
Someone worked for less money...
Lives in worse conditions...
Works in crummier conditions...
...than anyone of us.
32. networkdood posted on 02 Apr 2012, 13:42 1 0
Interesting find I have:
Google:
'minerals for smartphones'
And you get many selections like this story:
http://pochp.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/minerals-for-smartphones-and-ipads-politicized/
China is onto something - then again, they do have 1 billion + people to serve.
What happens when we run out?
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