Apple Asia labor update

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) today published its final report on three Foxconn facilities that supply parts and finished Apple products. The FLA report, which covers the first part of 2013, shows improvement, but remaining labor violations.

For instance, “... while Foxconn is largely complying with the FLA 60-hour/week Code standard, it did not meet its target of full compliance with the Chinese legal limit of 36 hours of overtime per month by July 1, 2013.”

Auret van Heerden, President & CEO of the Fair Labor Association, gave what can only be viewed as a tepid appraisal. “Foxconn’s compliance with the FLA working hours standard is a significant step in the right direction,” he said.

Read the news release and full reports here.

At the same time, media reported a worker death at a Shanghai Apple supplier, Pegatron. A 15 year-year-old, using the ID of his 21-year-old cousin, died of pneumonia. According to the New York-based China Labor Watch, the young worker had a medical intake exam on September 4 and was in good condition. But Pegatron claims that the boy’s death had nothing to do with his work at the assembly line.

Fair Labor Association Completes Verification at Apple Supplier Foxconn (FLA, Dec. 12, 2013)

Apple says death at Pegatron unrelated to working conditions (Reuters, Dec. 12, 2013)