Foxconn still violating labor rules

Foxconn, the huge Taiwan-owned manufacturer whose plants assemble Apple and Sony products, has compiled a long string of labor offenses. Despite Foxconn’s promises to improve working conditions – and scrutiny from various international labor organizations and Apple itself – Foxconn got caught again.

According to CNBC, a Foxconn plant “... had forced thousands of students from the Xi’an Institute of Technology to work at the plant assembling parts of Sony's PlayStation 4 games console.”

Often the violations have been uncovered by Western or Hong Kong based NGOs. But this time it was the local media which blew the whistle. Chinese newspaper Dongfang Daily described the use of unpaid student labor and said that “... students who did not participate in the work program would be in danger of losing their degree certificate.”

Foxconn responded by saying that, “... there have been a few instances where our policies pertaining to overtime and night shift work were not enforced.” And that, “Immediate actions have been taken to bring that campus into full compliance with our code and policies.”

Speed Matters supports efforts by outside groups and media to pressure FoxConn to improve, but believes that the best way to protect workers is to allow free and empowered trade unions.

Foxconn admits to interns working overtime, night shifts (CNBC, Oct. 11, 2013)

Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM website)

Foxconn to allow union – but will it be independent? (Speed Matters, Feb. 6, 2013)