The Wall Street Journal reports that a Chinese worker’s right group has brought forth allegations of poor working conditions at Apple supplier Pegatron. The group accuses the company of numerous safety and workplace violations.
Specifically, the worker group accuses that the company has made numerous safety and workplace violations, including the unethical holding of worker pay and identification cards, as well as poor living conditions within the factory including tight living quarters and packed cafeterias.
Apple published a reply to the allegations, stating in part:
Apple is committed to providing safe and fair working conditions throughout our supply chain. We lead the industry with far-reaching and specialized audits, the most transparent reporting and educational programs that enrich the lives of workers who make our products. Apple is the first and only technology company to be admitted to the Fair Labor Association, and we are dedicated to protecting every worker in our supply chain.
As a part of our extensive Supplier Responsibility program, Apple has conducted 15 comprehensive audits at Pegatron facilities since 2007, covering more than 130,000 workers making Apple products including annual audits of Pegatron’s final assembly locations and surprise audits at both RiTeng and AVY within the past 18 months.
Analysts estimate that Pegatron’s Pudong district factory produces one-third of the world’s iPhone and iPads, and the company as a whole has expanded its overall workforce from 50,000 workers in March to its current 70,000.
The news follows Apple’s announcement last week that it was forming an academic advisory board for its Supplier Responsibility program.
