By Star Chang, posted Feb 7, 2012 at 1:44 AM, 2,226 views,

CNN Investigates Foxconn Factory and Talks with iPad Worker (video)

CNN crew has flew all the way to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, to further investigates the Foxconn factory, after The New York Times published a pair of stories profiling Apple’s overseas manufacturing operations two weeks ago. CNN has managed to interview a part-time iPad worker which has only temporary worked inside the factory for several weeks. The young lady said she does not feel Foxconn cares about her …

For the interview, the employee was taken to what she said was the first restaurant she has eaten at since she began working at the Foxconn factory. She is also shown the fully assembled iPad for the first time in her life by the TV news network. She claims she was forced into overtime regularly, working 60 hours per week assembling components for the iPad. The 18-year-old student told CNN that all her Foxconn colleagues have been instructed not to talk to any reporter or “criminal liability shall be investigated according to law.” After three weeks of applying more than 4,000 stickers a day onto the iPad screens by hand, the young lady want to go back to school and study hard so she’ll never have to return to Foxconn.

Here is what she said to CNN during the interview :

Both Apple and Foxconn have responded to CNN about the news report. Apple said they care about every worker in their worldwide supply chain, they insist that their suppliers provide safe working conditions and treat workers with dignity and respect. Their suppliers must live up to these requirements if they want to keep doing business with them. Foxconn said they have taken their responsibility to their employees very seriously and work hard to give their 1.2 million employees in China a safe and positive working environment.

The CNN story is the latest recent report to attack Apple and Foxconn which both companies have jointly developed the ‘iEconomy’. Apple are making huge profits but workers in China feel that they are not getting a fair share. But just because Apple is making a profit doesn’t mean they are passing that onto their supply chain. Apple’s entire business model relies on Foxconn, what incentive does Foxconn have to improve for the Chinese workers if they know full well of that ? Tim Cook said Apple care about every worker in their worldwide supply chain, but Chinese worker doesn’t think so. Despite widespread reports of poor working conditions, Foxconn factories still offer a better benefits and surroundings than most factories in China, poor youngster with no work experience are still optimism enough to work for the big name. This is the contradiction of the ‘iEconomy’.

SOURCE: CNN