Advertisement
Apple
China Insider

Video: NGO releases report on labour violations by Apple supplier

China Labour Watch video reveals abuses at Pegatron factories in China

2-MIN READ2-MIN
Photo: AP
Jeremy Blum

China Labour Watch has released a video report highlighting labour violations in the mainland factories of Taiwanese company Pegatron - which is the second-biggest electronics manufacturing contractor for Apple. 

The video complements a 60-page report that the New York-based advocacy group released on July 29, claiming Pegatron's factories "employ thousands of student workers," and that employees are "forced to accept up to 14 hours of unpaid work every month." Poor living conditions, polluted water, denial of maternity leave and illegal fees charged by abusive hiring agencies are only some of the 86 violations that China Labour Watch claims to have uncovered through its investigations. The video also reports that most of the "Supplier Responsibility" promises on Apple's website, such as a statement that says supply factory employees will not be made to work more than 60 hours per week, are "at best, unrealised goals".
Advertisement

A statement from Apple responding to China Labour Watch's newest allegations said that the American electronics company was "committed to providing safe and fair working conditions," and had kept a careful watch on Pegatron's supply factories. 

"We have closely tracked working hours at all of [our supply] facilities," the statement read. "Our most recent survey in June found that Pegatron employees making Apple products worked 46 hours per week on average. Excessive overtime is not in anyone's best interest, and we work closely with our suppliers to prevent it.

Advertisement

"We have been in close contact with China Labour Watch for several months, investigating issues they've raised and sharing our findings... Their latest report contains claims that are new to us and we will investigate them immediately... If our audits find that workers have been underpaid or denied compensation for any time they've worked, we will require that Pegatron reimburse them in full." 

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x