Foxconn suicide factory

[The Wolf]

Am i the only one who's just hearing about this now?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/c...e-factory.html

While Apple has risen to become the world’s largest technology firm, Foxconn, the maker of almost all of its devices, appears to have broken under the pressure of keeping up with new orders.

Two more workers attempted to commit suicide on Thursday by jumping from the top of dormitory buildings at its giant Longhua factory, according to sources at the site. Both survived and are currently hospitalised.

On Wednesday night, just hours after the chairman of Foxconn assured hundreds of reporters that the plant was under control, a 23-year-old man killed himself.

So far, at least 16 people have jumped from high buildings at the factory so far this year, with 12 deaths. A further 20 people were stopped by the company before they could attempt to kill themselves.

[FoXy]

ok now THAT is disturbing

[turtle]

whoa wait what..... no you are def not the only one..

they are stringing nets between dorms to keep people from jumping...

[rzapata]

I've heard rumours that Foxconn employees did have a bad situation. I guess this just reinforces it more... Sad that Apple and Foxconn are on opposite situations, being Foxconn employess not being happy while Apple employees enjoy all the luxury.

[bluntman]

Am i the only one who's just hearing about this now?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/c...e-factory.html

Yes. This has been a problem since before the iPad 2 was released. Look at the date of the article!

[Fobio]

these instances were originally published earlier this year and in fact started from last yr.

2 things I have to say to this:

1. If Apple products were manufactured in the country of design, ie. USA, many of us would likely not have an iPhone considering the much higher labour cost in North America...remembr $3000 Apple IIe from the 1980's? yeah...

2. Ppl who think they should just go and boycott Apple is stupid...Tim Cook and Ivey will not suffer...it'll be the workers in these lowly factories who'll get let go.

Enjoy your $369 iPhone 4S 64GB on a 3-yr contract...the ppl who make them will likely never be able to afford one.

[The Wolf]

Yes. This has been a problem since before the iPad 2 was released. Look at the date of the article!

I know about when it happened. I expressed shock that I was only hearing about it now.

these instances were originally published earlier this year and in fact started from last yr.

2 things I have to say to this:

1. If Apple products were manufactured in the country of design, ie. USA, many of us would likely not have an iPhone considering the much higher labour cost in North America...remembr $3000 Apple IIe from the 1980's? yeah...

2. Ppl who think they should just go and boycott Apple is stupid...Tim Cook and Ivey will not suffer...it'll be the workers in these lowly factories who'll get let go.

Enjoy your $369 iPhone 4S 64GB on a 3-yr contract...the ppl who make them will likely never be able to afford one.

It's true. This is the price we pay for "affordable" iPhones (if you consider 1/4 of the annual average Chinese income affordable). This is what all investors want from every company on the stock market. Money in our pockets at the expense of others.

But I wouldn't call for an Apple boycott either. If iPhone users care about this, they should speak up. The more people who know the better. Obviously these corporations won't change themselves, they need to be shamed into action.

[bhrm]

Wrong! Don't forget the teen in China who COULD afford it by selling his kidney and some savings he had!

Obviously, he had some buyer's remorse.

Enjoy your $369 iPhone 4S 64GB on a 3-yr contract...the ppl who make them will likely never be able to afford one.

[Hoodzy]

I blame people who buy apple products

[SilentJay]

Ooold news. This is only a hot topic because of the media spotlight on Apple whenever they crank out the next iSomething. Nobody seems to care deeply when there are similar conditions in factories that produce less news-sensationalism-causing blenders.

[The Wolf]

I have never heard of a factory having nearly 40 suicide attempts on-site in one year. I highly doubt it's anything close to common.

Also, I didn't hear about this because of any iDevice release, this story was brought up while discussing Steve Jobs' death.

[iconicrocket]

Disturbing indeed.

[London3]

Disturbing yes, but there are still some people in the country who would rather have that job than what they are currently doing.
And the only reason this factory is the one under scrutiny is because they're the one pumping out the shiny apple products that everyone cant seem to get enough of IE the largest volume of sales above and beyond any other company.

[rktsci]

This is not a problem that is unique to Foxconn...they just seem to have the highest profile because of their relationship with Apple. As far as I am aware, Foxconn assembles products for many companies at that same campus.