An auditor released a heavily anticipated report on the working conditions at Apple supplier Foxconn, which documents dozens of major labor-rights violations, including excessive overtime, unpaid wages, and salaries that aren’t enough to cover basic living expenses. According to a report released on Thursday by auditors from the Fair Labor Association (FLA), more than 60 percent of the employees at three of Apple supplier Foxconn’s factories in China say their wages fall short of their basic needs. The average monthly salaries at the factories range from 2,257 RMB ($358) in Chengdu, and 2,872 RMB ($455) in Guanlan.
A team from the FLA surveyed 35,500 employees at three factories in Guanlan, Chengdu, and Longhua about their working and living conditions, including their compensation and working hours. The FLA audit also included inspection of manufacturing areas, dormitories, and other facilities. The report says Foxconn is in agreement to work with the group to remedy many of the violations it recorded. Foxconn says it will achieve “full legal compliance” with Chinese work-hour laws by July 1, 2013. To accomplish this mission, Foxconn will need to hire thousands of extra workers to offset its current employees’ workload, according to the FLA. Apple responded to the FLA audit in a written response and said, “We appreciate the work the FLA has done to assess conditions at Foxconn and we fully support their recommendations. We think empowering workers and helping them understand their rights is essential.”
