[LabourStart] China: Suicides at Foxconn, supplier to Apple and other international brands

LabourStart (28 May 2010 - present)

China: Suicides at Foxconn, supplier to Apple and other international brands

http://www.labourstart.org/foxconn

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SUMMARY

It's been dubbed the "suicide express" by Chinese media. Twelve workers, all between 18 and 24 years old, have committed suicide, at the production facilities of Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan-owned enterprise based in Shenzhen, southern China. 

Foxconn is a key supplier to various leading brands including Apple. International brands constantly drive down prices and demand shorter delivery time when placing orders. To secure contracts, Foxconn minimizes its cost to remain competitive, and transfers the pressure of the increasingly low profit margin to the frontline workers. Workers inevitably suffer as a result. Analyzing this vicious cycle of exploitation, we must realize that while Foxconn holds primary responsibility in exploiting the workers, global brands like Apple are just as much to blame for this race to the bottom game. 

The Taiwanese billionaire owner has blamed the suicides on China's social problems and refused to accept that excessive overtime or Foxconn's disciplinarian management style had anything to do with the issue. Foxconn has brought in psychiatrists and Buddhist monks, but has refused to change any of the working conditions as being at the core of the problem. 

Nine mainland Chinese and Hong Kong academics have issued an open statement calling on Foxconn and the government to do justice for the younger generation of migrant workers and unions and NGOs have organized protests in support of Foxconn workers in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

ACT NOW!

We strongly urge Foxconn to probe into the reasons for the high suicide rate in its facilities and to reform its management methods. In addition, the trade union at Foxconn should be reorganized through democratic elections of leaders, in accordance with the Trade Union Law of China, so that it can defend the rights of workers through collective bargaining. We also call upon Apple and other Foxconn customers to reexamine their purchasing model.