Labor minister cites foreign firms' exploitation
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME foreign companies in China exploit their workers by forcing them to do overtime or underpaying them, the labor minister said yesterday as controversy swirled over working conditions at a plant that makes Apple's iPhones and iPads.
Apple has faced a slew of bad press following deaths and suicides at its China supply firms. Three workers at Foxconn Technology Co Ltd died in a blast last year when dust from polishing iPads ignited, and worker-rights groups have said 18 workers at Foxconn sites killed themselves, or tried to, in 2010.
The majority of Foxconn's 1.2 million employees are involved in assembling Apple products.
Human Resources and Social security Minister Yin Weimin said foreign companies generally follow the law with their workers.
"Foreign-invested companies have made great contributions to China's economic development and have played a positive role," he told reporters on the sidelines of the parliament meeting.
"Of course, we have also noticed that problems exist at some companies, for example excessive overtime, too low pay for some workers and a lack of concern for people," Yin said, without naming any companies.
He said supervision will increase and that firms found to be breaking the law will be "severely investigated and dealt with."
The government will "step up guidance on companies' use of workers, supervise and push for improvements in working and living conditions and step up their concern for people," Yin said, without elaborating.
The US-based Fair Labor Association is carrying out a study of work conditions at Apple's top eight suppliers in China, including Foxconn, the world's largest manufacturer.
Apple has faced a slew of bad press following deaths and suicides at its China supply firms. Three workers at Foxconn Technology Co Ltd died in a blast last year when dust from polishing iPads ignited, and worker-rights groups have said 18 workers at Foxconn sites killed themselves, or tried to, in 2010.
The majority of Foxconn's 1.2 million employees are involved in assembling Apple products.
Human Resources and Social security Minister Yin Weimin said foreign companies generally follow the law with their workers.
"Foreign-invested companies have made great contributions to China's economic development and have played a positive role," he told reporters on the sidelines of the parliament meeting.
"Of course, we have also noticed that problems exist at some companies, for example excessive overtime, too low pay for some workers and a lack of concern for people," Yin said, without naming any companies.
He said supervision will increase and that firms found to be breaking the law will be "severely investigated and dealt with."
The government will "step up guidance on companies' use of workers, supervise and push for improvements in working and living conditions and step up their concern for people," Yin said, without elaborating.
The US-based Fair Labor Association is carrying out a study of work conditions at Apple's top eight suppliers in China, including Foxconn, the world's largest manufacturer.
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