Foxconn threatens legal action over iPod sweatshop report

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 20 June 2006 06:09

IT Industry - Strategy

Taiwanese iPod assembler Foxconn Electronics has threatened legal action over a report that Foxconn was making iPods for Apple Computer using women working under sweat shop conditions in China.

According to a report on Taiwanese site Digitimes.com, a spokesman for Foxconn said the report was untruthful and was like a vicious attack on the company. He added that the company reserves the right to take legal actions over the report.

An article that appeared the UK newspaper, Mail on Sunday, last week described sweat shop factories being run in mainland China by Foxconn. According to article, young women from rural regions are being paid just $50 a month, which is half the usual rate, are housed in dormitories of up to 100 and have to pay half their wages in rent and board.

What's more, the article claims that the hapless workers are required to do 15-hour shifts working in "slave" conditions.The article showed pictures purportedly taken from inside one of the dormitories showing side by side beds with wash buckets in front of them.

However, the Foxconn spokesman said that Foxconn abides by the employment law in China and has been actively making improvements to workers' living conditions, providing safe and well-equipped dormitories complete with free laundry service, sports facilities, libraries, and other facilities.