Apple is no stranger to being caught up in labor issues, with working conditions in Apple factories always being at the center of media attention. While most people are familiar with Foxconn, another major Apple supplier is now also being scrutinized for labor violations.
China Labor Watch has released a report detailing the kind of working conditions that employees at a Jabil Circuit factory have been subjected to. If true, calling it a rough job would be an understatement. The report details things such as 100 hour forced overtime months and 11 hour days of continuous standing.
The report also yet again adds confirmation that a “iPhone 5c” is being worked on.
A new undercover investigation by China Labor Watch (CLW) has revealed a series of ethical and legal labor violations in a factory in Wuxi, China owned by U.S. electronics manufacturer Jabil Circuit that is currently producing the soon-to-be-released cheap iPhone for Apple.
Among the infringements uncovered by CLW include millions of dollars in unpaid overtime wages; over 100 hours of monthly mandatory overtime, three times in excess of legal limits; more than 11 hours of standing work every day with no rest outside of 30-minute meal breaks; illegally inadequate pre-work training; hiring discrimination; and more.
Many of the violations raised in CLW’s report also contradict the codes of conduct of both Apple and Jabil Circuit. Despite half a decade of outside investigations and self-reporting on myriad labor abuse throughout its Chinese supply chain, Apple has continually failed to compel supplier factories to conform to Apple’s code of conduct and local labor laws before giving these suppliers Apple production orders.
The same labor group filed a similar report on Apple supplier Pegatron last month.
Apple has yet to respond to the report, but the company has repeatedly stated that it wants to try and improve working conditions in its suppliers’ factories.