Apple has placed Foxconn, an iPhone manufacturer in India, on probation for labour infractions
Foxconn, which utilises the plant to build iPhones and other electronics, apologised for the health violations and promised to improve its management and operations in the country.
Following worker protests and an inquiry that revealed unsatisfactory living circumstances, Apple Inc. placed Foxconn Technology Group’s factory in southern India on probation.
Foxconn, which utilises the plant to build iPhones and other electronics, apologised for the health violations and promised to improve its management and operations in the country. After the protests, the factory in Sriperumbudur, on the outskirts of Chennai, was shut down and will reopen once “required modifications” are completed.
Apple’s main assembly partner has had labour concerns in the past, particularly in China, where it produces the majority of the world’s iPhones as well as other gadgets for big worldwide brands such as laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles. After a series of suicides in 2010, the Taiwanese company, China’s largest employer of private labour, undertook a thorough overhaul of its operations, exposing awful living and working circumstances for the hundreds of thousands of migrants it employs to assemble electronics for international corporations.
“We despatched independent auditors following recent concerns regarding food safety and accommodation conditions at Foxconn Sriperumbudur,” an Apple spokesperson said. “We discovered that some of the remote dormitory accommodations and dining rooms utilised by staff do not match our requirements, and we’re working with the supplier to quickly undertake a thorough set of corrective activities.”
Foxconn is revamping its local management team and systems, and the business claimed it will continue to pay all employees during the shutdown. According to the Tamil Nadu government, Foxconn has promised to enlarge living areas, update bathing facilities, and offer drinking water to employees, and will resume operations soon.
In a text message, the Taiwanese gadget maker stated, “We are very sorry for the difficulty our employees experienced and are taking immediate action to improve the facilities and services we provide.”
The episode reminds Apple of a similar incident in India a year ago, when it put another iPhone producer, Wistron Corp., on probation over unpaid salary rioting. Apple has placed Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur facility on probation until Apple is satisfied that its criteria have been met, according to the Cupertino, California-based business. Foxconn has not stated when it plans to reopen the factory.
