The name Foxconn has become stenography for the human costs of building the iPhone in China , linking Apple to bad publicity about worker suicides , expiry from a flora burst and riot factory actor .
But many other company besides Apple contract with the Taiwan - establish firm to build up their products . Even if you do n’t have an iPhone , there ’s a good chance that something you own or utilise each solar day was build by Foxconn Technology Group , a society analysts say is the largest electronics manufacturer in the humankind .
Foxconn , which utilize some 1.2 million workers in China , is close about who it does business with , and the company declined to name its client for this clause . But analyst who follow the fellowship volunteer lesson of the products meet , and the list is retentive .
Sony ’s PlayStation 3 , the Nintendo Wii and Amazon ’s Kindle Fire are just a few of the products Foxconn makes . It also produces television set for Sony , Sharp , and Toshiba ; handsets for Nokia , Motorola and Huawei , and networking equipment for Cisco , according to Arthur Liao , an analyst with Fubon Securities Investment Services Co.
Michael Kan / IDGNSAn entrance to a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou , China .
Foxconn is also a major assembly program of PCs for Hewlett - Packard , Dell and Acer , and manufactures all three of the with child secret plan consoles , from Microsoft , Nintendo and Sony , other psychoanalyst enjoin .
Cisco , Huawei , Nintendo , Sony and Nokia all confirmed they apply Foxconn as a manufacturer , though Nokia said the “ clear absolute majority ” of its phones are made in - house . Other firms admit Acer , Microsoft , Motorola , Sharp and Toshiba declined to comment about where their intersection are made .
Still , as allegation of opprobrious Department of Labor practices continue to be level at Foxconn , Apple has been the primary target of complaints about the producer ’s working conditions .
The strong association may not be unjustified . Among Foxconn ’s clients , Apple is the largest and contributes about 40 percent of the company ’s revenue , according to Liao . Another psychoanalyst put the figure higher , at more than 50 percent .
Apple ’s relationship with Foxconn is so extensive that the Taiwanese firm has been building factories exclusively to assemble Apple products , accord to Helen Chiang , an analyst with inquiry business firm IDC . This is done to meet Apple ’s requirement for privateness regarding its production . In demarcation , a manufacturing business such as Quanta Computer , also base in Taiwan , will use one storey of a fabrication plant for a vendor such as HP , and another floor for Dell , she state .
In the eye of labor shelter groups , Apple deserves to be single out for critique because of its powerful place in the marketplace .
“ Foxconn is the big manufacturer and Apple is the big electronics company , so they have an even big duty than other company , ” articulate Li Qiang , founder of New York - based China Labor Watch . Most recently , the group blamed Apple ’s iPhone 5 requirements for tension and vehemence at a factory in Zhengzhou .
That ’s not to say travail grouping have discount other electronics suppliers . China Labor Watch released a write up last year about conditions at 10 factories in China , include ones operate by Foxconn , Quanta , Catcher Technology and Compal Electronics . It rule instances of forced overtime , harsh worker treatment and miserable dorm condition . Chinese factories used by Samsung have also comeunder scrutiny .
“ We never said that Apple was the worst in the industry , ” said Debby Chan , a project officer with Hong Kong - found Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior ( SACOM ) . “ Samsung , HTC , Motorola , Amazon and Nokia have the same problems . ”
SACOM has been one of the most outspoken advocates for alteration at Foxconn . The issue was first raised in 2010 after a string of doer suicides inspire former Apple CEO Steve Jobs to defend its supplier . In awidely reported email , Jobs say , “ Although every suicide is tragical , Foxconn ’s suicide rate is well below the China average . ”
“ It was the primary rationality for us to target Apple , ” Chan said , refer to Jobs ’s gossip support Foxconn . While medium and childbed group were looking into the root grounds behind the problem , Apple cut inquiries into the affair , she said .
Since then , Apple has been more active about address problems at Foxconn factories , for exampleworking with the Fair Labor Association to inspect installation for labor movement violations . Apple declined to comment for this clause . In the yesteryear it has order : “ Our squad has been working for years to educate worker , improve conditions and make Apple ’s provision chemical chain a modeling for the industry . ”
Foxconn said it wants to give its employee in China “ a safe and positive working environs and recompense and welfare that are much higher than government - mandated wages , and that are competitive with all of our manufacture equal in every location where we operate . ”
It provides housing , nutrient allowance account and medical welfare , and has raised pay five times in three years , it say in a argument . “ Foxconn is not perfect , but we have made marvelous progress , ” it enunciate .
While labor groups remain unconvinced that the onward motion is sufficient , Chan match that Apple ’s influence over its suppliers could help to ameliorate working condition in factories across China . In addition to Foxconn , Apple habituate 155 other suppliers , some of which have also draw allegations ofpoor workings conditions . Chan ’s group hop Apple will take the lead and help to reform the entire electronics manufacturing manufacture .
