This Man Worked Undercover In A Chinese iPhone Factory | Insider Tech
Summary
TLDRIn 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
- ๐ 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.
- ๐ The factory is located in Shanghai and is part of the Apple supply chain.
- ๐ฐ The monthly wage, including base salary and overtime, is approximately 3,100 yuan, which is around $450.
- ๐ Workers are required to wear uniforms consisting of a blue hat, shirt, and pants, but they only receive one set.
- ๐ฑ While some workers own iPhones, most use cheaper, China-produced phones.
- ๐ Security measures include swiping a card and facial recognition to enter the factory, with additional security for iPhone 7 production.
- ๐ซ The factory has measures to prevent worker suicides, such as nets on stairs and window cages.
- ๐ข Dormitories are shared, with eight people to a room and communal restrooms and showers for approximately 200 people.
- ๐ Meal options in the factory are limited and cheap, often consisting of noodles with vegetables and no meat.
- ๐ฎ Workers' leisure activities include watching movies on their phones or playing video games like League of Legends at internet cafes.
- ๐ Weekends are for socializing, with workers often visiting a nearby market for treats like roast chicken and beer.
- ๐ 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
๐ฉ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กiPhone
๐กFactory
๐กScrew
๐กWork Shift
๐กSalary
๐กBreak Time
๐กUniform
๐กDormitory
๐กTurnover Rate
๐กSecurity Measures
๐กSocial 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
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