I recently discovered a chinese contractor, Foxconn, which is responsible for assembling the iPhone has had eight of its staff make attempts (many of which have been successful) to end their lives over the past year.
According to Fairfax Ltd, "[t]he most notable Foxconn suicide came last July when 25-year-old Sun Danyong jumped from his high-rise apartment after being interrogated over a missing iPhone prototype."
IDG News service reports that Foxconn has asked "Chinese police to investigate a case in which an employee reportedly committed suicide after being pressured over the loss of an iPhone prototype."
The report suggests the Chinese former employee was "roughed up" by a Foxconn security official, and that the incident reveals "management shortcomings" at the company.
Additionally, Apple has admitted to using child labour, with Fairfax reporting "at least eleven 15 year-old children were discovered to be working last year in three factories that supply Apple."
Where I feel torn is that I own a Macbook Pro, an iPod and an iPhone, so am I supporting this practice and thus endorsing unsafe working conditions?
Am I morally or ethically obligated to take a stand and refuse to continue supporting Apple until they demand improved working conditions from their contractors? And would my stand even make a difference to Apple? Unfortunately, I think not.
I'll continue typing on my Apple laptop and calling on my Apple iPhone, but at least I'll be aware of the ethical problems associated with the company and perhaps, by blogging, so might others.
Photo courtesy of: http://dotnetslackers.com/Community/blogs/kaushalparik/apple%20iphone.jpg
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