¿Explotación laboral por Apple en China. Reportaje por CNN

Summary

The script discusses the life of a migrant worker, Miss Chen, at Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer in China. Despite working over 60 hours a week assembling iPads, she has never seen a finished product. Foxconn, known for producing Apple's iconic devices, has faced criticism for its labor practices, including high turnover and poor working conditions, leading to a series of worker suicides in 2010. While the company claims to have improved conditions and worker welfare, with on-site medical services and better living conditions, Miss Chen and others still feel overworked and undervalued. Despite her dissatisfaction, she aspires to own an iPad someday.

Takeaways

• 📱 The script discusses the irony of a woman who works over 60 hours a week manufacturing iPads but has never seen a finished one.
• 🏭 The woman, referred to as Miss Chen, works for Foxconn, a major electronics manufacturer for globally recognized brands, including Apple.
• 🤫 Miss Chen fears speaking to the media, as she believes it could lead to her losing her job due to Foxconn's strict policies against employees speaking to the press.
• 👥 Foxconn employs over a million workers, with the majority based in China, where they manufacture Apple's iconic products like iPads, iPods, and iPhones.
• 🔁 The script highlights high employee turnover at Foxconn, with workers being easily replaceable and discouraged from complaining about their conditions.
• 🆘 The company has faced controversies, including a series of worker suicides in 2010, which led to increased scrutiny and improvements in working conditions.
• 💼 Foxconn claims to provide fair treatment and protection of workers' rights, offering medical services and improved living conditions for its employees.
• 🤔 Despite Foxconn's claims, there are allegations of preferential treatment for executives and managers, while the majority of workers face a military-like culture with unpredictable work hours and strict management.
• 🗣️ Workers are reportedly not allowed to speak during rest periods and are discouraged from speaking out about their conditions, even outside the production area.
• 💭 Miss Chen expresses her desire to leave Foxconn and return to university, indicating a dissatisfaction with her current job and a desire for a different future.
• 💰 Miss Chen earns a low hourly wage and aspires to own an iPad one day, reflecting the contrast between her role in manufacturing the product and her personal ability to afford it.

Q & A

What is the main activity of the woman mentioned in the script?

The woman, referred to as Señorita Chen, dedicates more than 60 hours per week to assembling screens for electronic devices, specifically iPads, at Foxconn.

Why has Señorita Chen never seen a finished iPad despite working on them?

Señorita Chen has never seen a finished iPad because she works on assembling parts and does not have access to the final product during her work at Foxconn.

What is Foxconn known for in the context of the script?

Foxconn is known for manufacturing electronic products such as iPads, iPods, and iPhones for globally renowned companies like Apple.

What is the main concern of the workers at Foxconn according to Señorita Chen?

The main concern of the workers at Foxconn, as expressed by Señorita Chen, is the intense and dehumanizing work conditions where they are overworked and treated like machines.

What is the policy of Foxconn regarding employee interviews as mentioned in the script?

According to the script, Foxconn has a policy that considers accepting interviews a criminal offense that will be investigated according to the law.

What recent incident at Foxconn's Wuhan plant is mentioned in the script?

The script mentions a recent incident where workers at Foxconn's Wuhan plant threatened mass suicide, which was related to labor assignments and relocation policies, according to Microsoft.

How did Foxconn respond to the worker suicides in 2010?

In response to the worker suicides in 2010, Foxconn improved conditions in its factories, increased salaries, and provided therapy to its employees.

What is Apple's stance on working with companies that do not respect their employees, as per the script?

Apple's stance, as mentioned in the script, is that they ensure not to work with companies that do not respect their employees and that they care about the workers in all the companies they have a relationship with.

What are the worker rights groups' claims about Foxconn's treatment of employees?

Worker rights groups claim that Foxconn favors certain privileged individuals like executives and managers, while the majority of workers face a military-like culture with unpredictable work hours, inadequate rest periods, and strict restrictions on talking in production areas.

What are Señorita Chen's future plans regarding her employment at Foxconn?

Señorita Chen plans to leave her job at Foxconn soon to return to university and has no intention of returning to work there in the future.

Despite her negative experience, what does Señorita Chen say about owning an iPad?

Despite her negative experience working at Foxconn, Señorita Chen expresses a desire to own an iPad someday if she has enough money.