Apple received claims of poor working conditions at a supplier in China that is creating a new model of iPhone. Apple has a 60-hour workweek limit, but China Labor Watch is claiming that the supplier is forcing employees to work unwarranted overtime. The New York based watchdog has said that factory workers are standing more than 11 hours a day, and are forced to sign a contract essentially stating the expectation of overtime hours. The factory, owned by Jabil Circuit, a Florida based electronics manufacturing company, is responsible for producing the plastic backing for a cheaper version of the iPhone. Jabil has sent a team to investigate the situation at the factory and promises to initiate a change if the allegations are true.
It is not the first time that the Jabil factory has been investigated though. Earlier in the year, Apple found that “some employees had worked more than six consecutive days and that Jabil was working with Apple to manage overtime,” said Kitty Potter, a company spokeswoman. Apple has performed around 14 audits of the factory since 2008.
