At least it wasn't child labor.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/9/21556154/apple-supplier-p…
Will this stop you buying Apple? Most companies like Walmart used the excuse that they didn't know and that the labor was outsourced when they got caught for child labor? Or was it more the reponsibility of Pegatron to police this and not Apple?
Pegatron
Those damn Decepticons are up to their dirty tricks again!
*Pecepticons
we immediately took the student workers off production lines
So they basically sacked the workers that could be the sole provider for the household. Well done for kicking the workers in the gut when they're already struggling.
Damned if you do..
Considering my relative has a friend who died of cancer in the Apple factory, they are better off. They aren't even provided with protection and had hazardous gases and mineral exposure causing cancer and mutations.
"Apple factory" doesn't exist. Sorry for your loss but your relative worked for a manufacturing company that subcontracts to Apple among many others (e.g. Foxconn).
It's not Apple's direct responsibility although they are taking significant steps to maintain supply chain integrity & human welfare.
The fact that they are struggling isn't Apple's problem (at least legally), but having student workers are (and can get them into trouble if they don't do anything about it).
the way I interpret it - Apple is likely the only company Pegatron is dealing with that has significant clout to put a stop to it or ask officials to investigate.
Let's say you're a factory… with a few things to hide. You have some big customers (Apple one of them) and you have some small customers
Small customers find out that you're up to no good through the rumor mill. They know you don't have a good track record of behaviour but because you're cutting them a good deal on production costs — they agree to stay silent. Or they just don't have the resources to check up on you so that stuff never makes the news.
Apple on the other hand are rich enough that they care about their public image so they specifically employ a team of people to audit the factories (surprise visits). Bam, it's news.
once Apple finds out you are up to no good, you're basically boned. Your lucrative contracts go in the trash, they stop doing business with you and your shares tank when people hear about it.
Consumers don’t care, so long as they get their shiny new electronic device and it doesn’t cause slow downs in production or delivery.
This isn't just Apple, it happens in every industry which outsources workers from developing countries to cut manufacturing costs (with the motive to prioritise profit of course). I'd say Apple is one of the 'nicer' companies as it is uses its huge influence on suppliers to ensure the workers have decent working conditions, and suppliers are kind of forced to follow suit because they don't want to lose their relationship with such a huge corporation that will buy a huge number of their components. And of course it doesn't really matter for Apple that they are losing a supplier, because they have a whole line of suppliers who are wanting in. So yeah, theoretically any supplier who has a contract with Apple should be on their best behaviour.
The fact that this news came out is good for Apple because it shows that they are actively clamping down on issues such as these.
including allowing students to work nights and/or overtime and in some cases to perform work unrelated to their major
So the interns did actual work and not just CoLlAbOrAtInG, then someones rich government daddy blew the whistle
China now has first world problems
The fact that they're doing the right thing for supply chain malpractices? Why would it?
https://www.apple.com/au/supplier-responsibility/