This Man Worked Undercover In A Chinese iPhone Factory | Insider Tech

Summary

In this insightful transcript, 'Jenang' describes his monotonous 12-hour shifts at an Apple factory in Shanghai, where he earns approximately $450 monthly, including overtime. The factory's strict security measures, worker uniforms, and the stark living conditions in dormitories are highlighted. Despite the challenging work environment, there are moments of camaraderie and simple pleasures, such as weekend gatherings and market visits. The high turnover rate reflects the transient nature of the job, which workers view as a means to earn money rather than a source of pride.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The worker spends 12 hours a day, with actual work time being 10.5 hours after breaks, performing a repetitive task of screwing the speaker to the iPhone's back case.
• 📍 The factory is located in Shanghai and is part of the Apple supply chain.
• 💰 The monthly wage, including base salary and overtime, is approximately 3,100 yuan, which is around $450.
• 👕 Workers are required to wear uniforms consisting of a blue hat, shirt, and pants, but they only receive one set.
• 📱 While some workers own iPhones, most use cheaper, China-produced phones.
• 🛂 Security measures include swiping a card and facial recognition to enter the factory, with additional security for iPhone 7 production.
• 🚫 The factory has measures to prevent worker suicides, such as nets on stairs and window cages.
• 🏢 Dormitories are shared, with eight people to a room and communal restrooms and showers for approximately 200 people.
• 🍜 Meal options in the factory are limited and cheap, often consisting of noodles with vegetables and no meat.
• 🎮 Workers' leisure activities include watching movies on their phones or playing video games like League of Legends at internet cafes.
• 🍗 Weekends are for socializing, with workers often visiting a nearby market for treats like roast chicken and beer.
• 🔄 The turnover rate is high, with workers typically leaving after a few weeks or a month, viewing the job as a means to earn money rather than a source of pride.

Q & A

What is the primary task of the narrator in the Apple factory?

The narrator's primary task is to put one screw that fastens the speaker to the back case of the iPhone.

How many hours does the narrator work in a day at the factory?

The narrator works 12 hours a day in the factory, but only 10 and 1/2 hours are considered work due to break time deductions.

What is the monthly salary of the narrator, including overtime wages?

The narrator's monthly salary is approximately 3,100 yuan, which includes the base salary plus overtime wages, equivalent to around $450.

How often does the narrator take a break during the week?

The narrator takes a break once a week, on Sunday.

How many workers are estimated to be in the factories according to the narrator?

The narrator estimates there to be about 70,000 workers inside the factories.

What is the attire requirement for workers in the factory?

Workers are required to wear a uniform which includes a blue hat, a paint shirt, and blue pants, along with sleepers.

What security measures are in place for workers entering the factory?

Workers need to swipe their cards and go through face recognition to enter the factory. Additionally, they must go through a metal detector, especially when entering the fourth floor.

What is the manager's attitude towards workers in the factory according to the narrator?

The manager's attitude is described as harsh, with yelling at workers being a routine occurrence.

What preventive measures are in place to prevent worker suicides in the factory?

The factory has nets in the stairs and cage-like ceilings on the windows to prevent workers from jumping.

What is the living situation like for the narrator in the dormitory?

The narrator shares a room with seven other people, and one floor has only one restroom and one bathroom for about 200 people to share.

What activities do workers typically engage in during their leisure time?

Workers usually stay in their dorms to watch movies on their phones or go to internet cafes to play video games like League of Legends.

What is the typical weekend activity for workers near the campus?

Workers often go to a big market close to the campus with many restaurants, where they might treat themselves to roast chicken and gather for a beer on Sundays.

What are the rules regarding drinking and smoking in the dormitory?

Drinking and smoking are not allowed in the dormitory, and workers who are drunk are not permitted to enter.

What is the turnover rate like in the factories?

The turnover rate is very high, with people often leaving after just two weeks or a month.

How do workers generally feel about their work in the factory?

Workers do not seem to be particularly proud of their work but rather view it as a job that provides them with money.

What is a moment of excitement for workers at the end of the day?

Workers feel excitement at the end of the day when the line manager counts down the remaining pieces to be completed, and they can interact and smile with each other.

Outlines

00:00

🔩 Life of an iPhone Factory Worker

This paragraph introduces the speaker, Jenang, who works in an Apple factory in Shanghai, specifically tasked with fastening a screw to the iPhone's back case. The workday begins at 7:30 am and lasts for 12 hours, with breaks deducted, totaling 10.5 hours of actual work. Jenang earns approximately 3,100 yuan per month, which includes base salary and overtime wages. The factory is vast, housing around 70,000 workers and seven sub-factories within a single campus. Workers are required to wear uniforms and go through strict security measures, including metal detectors and face recognition. The factory has measures in place to prevent worker suicides, such as nets and window cages. Workers live in dormitories, with Jenang's dorm located off-campus and requiring a shuttle bus ride. Living conditions are communal, with eight people to a room and shared facilities for 200 people. In their free time, workers watch movies or play video games at internet cafes. The food options in the factory are limited and often inexpensive, with many workers opting for the cheaper meal options. The majority of the workers are young men aged 18 to 30, who are social and have unique characteristics. Weekend activities often involve going to a nearby market with restaurants and social gatherings. The factory has strict rules regarding alcohol and smoking in the dorms. The turnover rate is high, with many workers leaving after short periods. Despite the challenging conditions, there are moments of camaraderie and excitement, especially at the end of the workday when the line manager counts down the remaining tasks.

Keywords

💡iPhone

The iPhone is a line of smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc. In the video, the narrator works in an Apple factory in Shanghai where iPhones are assembled. The mention of 'iPhone' is central to the video's theme, illustrating the monotonous and repetitive nature of the work involved in assembling a single component of the device, such as a screw.

💡Factory

A factory is a building or group of buildings where goods are manufactured or assembled. The video script describes the factory environment where the narrator works, emphasizing the scale of the operation with 70,000 workers and the strict security measures in place, such as metal detectors and face recognition systems.

💡Screw

A screw is a type of fastener with a threaded shaft and a helical coil that can be inserted into a hole to fasten materials together. The script highlights the repetitive task of placing a single screw to fasten the speaker to the back case of the iPhone, symbolizing the tedious nature of assembly line work.

💡Work Shift

A work shift refers to a period of time during which an employee is required to work. The video describes a 12-hour work shift, with actual work time being 10 and 1/2 hours after accounting for breaks. This concept is crucial to understanding the long hours and the physical demands of the job.

💡Salary

Salary refers to the fixed remuneration paid to an employee, typically monthly or annually. The narrator mentions earning approximately 3,100 yuan, which is equivalent to about $450 per month, including base salary and overtime wages. This provides insight into the economic aspect of the workers' lives.

💡Break Time

Break time is a period during the workday when employees are allowed to rest or take a pause from their tasks. The script notes that break time is deducted from the total time spent in the factory, emphasizing the long hours of continuous work without much respite.

💡Uniform

A uniform is a set of clothes worn by members of an organization or group to display unity and adherence to a dress code. The video describes the required uniform for factory workers, which includes a blue hat, shirt, and pants, indicating the standardized and regimented nature of the work environment.

💡Dormitory

A dormitory is a type of residence that provides sleeping and living quarters for multiple people, often in shared rooms. The script describes the living conditions in the factory's off-campus dormitory, where eight people live in one room and share limited bathroom facilities, highlighting the communal and sometimes cramped living arrangements.

💡Turnover Rate

Turnover rate refers to the rate at which employees leave a company and are replaced by new employees. The video mentions a high turnover rate in the factories, with people leaving after just two weeks or a month, indicating the challenging and perhaps unsustainable nature of the work.

💡Security Measures

Security measures are steps taken to protect a facility or organization from potential threats or breaches. The script details the security protocols in place at the factory, such as swiping a card and going through metal detectors, as well as additional measures like nets and window cages to prevent worker suicides.

💡Social Life

Social life refers to the activities and interactions that an individual engages in outside of work. The video describes the social activities of the workers, such as watching movies on their phones, playing video games at internet cafes, and gathering for food and drinks on weekends, providing a glimpse into their leisure and community life.

Highlights

Worker spends 12 hours a day inserting a single screw into the iPhone.

Jenang works in a Foxconn Apple factory in Shanghai.

Workers are tasked with fastening the speaker to the iPhone's back case with a screw.

Workday begins at 7:30 AM and includes a total of 10.5 hours of actual work, with breaks deducted.

Repetition of tasks leads to boredom for workers.

Monthly wage is approximately 3,100 yuan, equivalent to about $450, including base salary and overtime.

Workers have one day off per week, on Sundays.

Approximately 70,000 workers are employed across seven sub-factories within one main campus.

Uniforms are mandatory, consisting of a blue hat, shirt, and pants, with only one set provided.

Workers are not commonly seen with iPhones, often using cheaper, China-produced phones.

High-security measures include swiping a card and facial recognition to enter the factory.

Managers are known to yell at workers, which is considered routine.

Suicide prevention measures include nets on stairs and cage-like structures on windows.

Dormitories house eight workers per room, with shared restrooms and showers for approximately 200 people.

Workers' leisure activities include watching movies on their phones or playing video games at internet cafes.

Food options in the factory are limited, with cheap meals consisting of noodles and vegetables.

The majority of workers are male, aged between 18 to 30, and have a social and lively demeanor.

Weekend activities include visiting a nearby market with restaurants and social gatherings.

Alcohol consumption and smoking are prohibited in the dormitories, and intoxicated individuals are not allowed entry.

High turnover rate with workers leaving after short periods, viewing the job as merely a source of income.

A sense of excitement and camaraderie is felt among workers as the end of the workday approaches.

Transcripts

I spent 12 hours a day just putting one

screw in the iPhone my name is the

jenang I work in a patron Apple

factories in

[Music]

Shanghai so what I do is just put one

screw that fasten the speaker to the

back case of the iPhone we will start in

the Factories at 7:30 and then um we

will spend 12 hours inside of the

factories but actually we only do 10 and

1/2 hours work because the break time is

deducted you get bored because like

you're just repeatedly doing the same

thing the amount that I get is 3,100 y I

think that's around

$450 it's per month but it's included uh

the base salary plus the overtime uh

wages we only take a break once a week

on Sunday uh during my time there I

think there are about um

70,000 workers inside of the factories

the factory is pretty big the whole

factories have uh seven sub factories

but they all in one main campus they are

required uniform we have a blue hat and

then we have a paint shirt and a blue

pants but we only get one set of it and

workers also wear sleepers we have a

locker room that's where worker uh

change their clothes put their phones

their keys all the metals some workers

very rarely they do have iPhones but

most of the workers workers they use

some kind of like China produced phone

which are cheaper we need to swipe our

car uh and then they have a face

recognition and then the door will open

and you get in after you get in you wait

in line to go through a metal

detector but that was during the time

that I was producing uh iPhone 6s when I

was producing iPhone 7 they increased

their security level when I get into the

fourth floor I need to swipe my car

again and go through another metal Det

Factor one thing that shocked me most I

think is the attitude of the manager

like yelling at workers is kind of a

routine in the factories there are still

some facilities or mechanism that

prevents workers coming suicide they

have the Nets uh in the stairs and also

all the windows they have this um

ceiling like cage where uh you can you

can jump from your window so we live in

a dorm and there are multiple dorms uh

in the factory some are located inside

of the main campus some are off campus

my dorm is off campus we you need to

take a shuttle bus which is about 10

minutes inside of the room eight people

live together but in one floor we only

have one restroom and one uh bathroom

for shower is shared by about 200 people

because we have about 20ish rooms in one

floor workers generally do two things

they either uh stay in their dorm to

watch movies uh on their phone or they

go to uh internet cafe to play video

games and the games they play are like

League of Legends and something like

that there are different spots that you

can have food inside of the factories

one of them uh the one that we have most

is inside the factory Workshop building

they have eight types of combo some of

them are just noodles and with no meat

and just some vegetable those are the

cheap ones which is like 5 un so in the

factories I saw a lot of workers are

male the age is like 18 to 30 they're

very social they're very funly and

everybody have a very interesting life

and very unique um characteristics

typically in the weekend they go out of

the campus because there is a very big

Market very close to the campus where

there's a lot of restaurants people get

roast chicken sometimes as a treat for

their weekend and people get beer and

have a gathering together but those are

only happens in in Sunday typically you

are not allowed to drink inside of the

dorm and also you're not allowed to

smoke uh in the in the dorm and when you

were drunk or you're wasted you are not

allowed to get into the dorm because

there are some cases that uh workers

fight because of that the turnover rate

is very high in the factories people

left after 2 weeks or a month I won't

say people are proud of their work but

uh I would say that they just consider

it a jobs that can give them money Som

how you feel exciting typically at the

end of the day when the line manager is

counting down that saying that we have

500 pieces left 200 pieces you see

workers are like smile they talk with

each other

and that was the moments that you feel

really good at the end of the

[Music]

day