Blog 11: Apple's Chief Puts Stamp on Labor Issues

This New York Times Article, written by Nick Wingfield, details the steps that Apple's new CEO, Timothy Cook, is taking to ensure good labor practices in its Chinese plants.  The Foxconn plant has received the most attention, mainly due to recent reports that have detailed the miserable working conditions and extensive overtime hours required of employees.  Under the leadership of Cook, the factories are made to publish compliance reports with Apple's 60 hour work week policy.  Now, eighty-nine percent of companies abide by the standard.  In addition, Apple has joined the Fair Labor Association and invited nonprofit monitoring groups to inspect the 156 supplier factories.  Under the new scrutiny, Foxconn has agreed to reduce their work week to the cap of 49 hours required by Chinese law with a concurring pay increase that will offset the lost hours.

I have spent many of these blogs detailing human rights abuses at the hands of the state.  With the state being the only authorized agent for the use of legitimate force, it would stand to reason that the state has the most room for abuse of that force, but they are not the only perpetrator.  As demonstrated by several Youtube clips and the movie "China Blue," it is abundantly clear that businesses can also perpetrate human rights abuses.  It is clear that the long hours and low pay afforded to Chinese suppliers of Apple have long suffered at the hands of Foxconn and other companies.  With Apple's new leadership, there is some hope that these abuses will diminish.  The steps taken by Apple in terms of disclosure and opening themselves up for inspection are significant steps in diminishing the terrible working conditions inside some plants in China.