Apple strengthens child labour checks but is it enough?

According to the Guardian, Apple has strengthened it’s child labour checks in facilities in it’s supply chain in China, and it’s annual report on manufacturers details that there were nine times as many children working at it’s suppliers than last year.

The fact that Apple has published the report is a positive step, and 40% of the facilities audited say that Apple is the first company to look into their social responsibility compliance.

Apple ordered some companies to pay education costs of children who were found working in the facilities and fired one company who chose to overlook the situation – however Debby Chan, of Hong Kong’s Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour campaign critisized Apple saying that she regarded the report “as a means of image-building rather than ensuring compliance with labour rights”.

The report also acknowledged other issues such as n-hexane poisoning, working hour requirements and preventing working injuries.