As Apple prepares to start sell its new iPad mini , worker at a Chinese manufactory that manufactures the Cartesian product have been enduring chemical substance fumes , 12 - hour work shifts and so-called company mismanagement as they assemble the new gimmick .
“ The working condition here are meth , there ’s no need to convey it up , ” say a 25 - year - old worker surnamed Wu . “ you’re able to mould for overtime for two days , but the company will only pay for one of them . ”
The factory , black market by RiTeng Computer Accessory Co. , is locate on the fringe of Shanghai and mainly builds mathematical product for Apple , consort to workers interview on Wednesday . Due to the increased production of Apple ’s iPad Cartesian product , some actor have seen their shifts hit 12 hours a day , with no relief on the weekends . The added minute intend in effect earnings , often ranging between 3,000 yuan ( US$ 480 ) to 4,000 Mongol dynasty a calendar month .
Michael Kan / IDGNSWorkers exit the RiTeng mill in Shanghai . The mill was the web site of an plosion last class .
“ The job is o.k. , ” said a worker , surnamed He , who packages products . “ I did n’t really have programme after I fine-tune schoolhouse . I ’m just doing this to make money . ”
But the money does n’t add up well . Along with the long shifts , worker sound off of the noxious chemical fumes in the manufactory cause by the turn out fluid used , and worried about its health effects .
“ The smell is indescribable , ” said a 25 - year - older political machine operator surnamed Wang , who declined to give his full name . “ It feels like there is smoke in the airwave . ”
Management at the factory also unfairly cut reward by misreporting the amount of overtime or personal leave of absence logged , according to worker interviewed . In accession , management strictly enforces rules , such as forbid workers from make for cell sound into the manufacturing facility , or check that that employees full zip up their fellowship jacket while on the job . Breaking rules or produce faulty products can mean a deduction to an employee ’s earnings , workers added .
Last December , the RiTeng factory came under the limelight when anexplosion at the facilitysent 61 workers to the hospital . Victims of the explosion interviewed on Wednesday described trauma including broken bone that have been slow to cure , along with burns that initially left one worker ’s boldness smuggled with cicatrix .
“ I rightfully , rightfully regret working at the manufacturing plant , ” said one of the injured proletarian , who wish to withhold his name for fear of being punished by the company . “ I had just begin working at the factory . I had only been there for over a calendar month . ”
On Tuesday , labor protection group Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviorreleased a reportcriticizing Apple and RiTeng for allege labor abuses at the manufacturing plant . Apple and RiTeng could not be reach for comment .
While some worker complained of the condition , others plainly state the RiTeng factory was corresponding to others , observe that it was easy to find a business at the facility . A 21 - yr - sure-enough worker , surnamed Jiang , say he ’s been form the last three months straight without a day off in gild to help assemble the new iPad miniskirt .
“ It ’s all right , ” Jiang said of the chemical substance fume in the factory . “ Sometimes they give us a mask . ”
