Foxconn has agreed to fulfill FLA and Chinese legal codes by July of 2013, including cutting the variety of monthly overtime hours from 80 to 36. To catch up on the lost work hours the manufacturer will boost wages and plans to rent thousands of latest workers to assist maintain current production levels. A concerted effort is additionally planned to enhance the protection and medical conditions on the plants and their accompanying dormitories. The moves can be felt here within the US as small increases within the cost of electronic goods, however the price could be easy to swallow considering the load it'll help lift off our conscience. Hit up the source link to read the whole report for yourself and try the PR after the break.
Fair Labor Association Secures Commitment to restrict Workers' Hours, Protect Pay at Apple's Largest Supplier
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Independent Investigation Uncovers Significant Issues; 35,500 Anonymous Surveys Give Voice to Worker Concerns
FLA to watch, Publish Progress Reports on Apple and Foxconn Implementation
WASHINGTON, D.C.- After an intensive, independent investigation found significant issues with working conditions at three factories in China operated by Apple's major supplier Foxconn, the Fair Labor Association secured groundbreaking commitments that would reduce working hours to legal limits while protecting pay, improve health and safety conditions, establish a real voice for employees, and can monitor on an ongoing basis to confirm compliance. The nearly month-long investigation found excessive overtime and issues of overtime compensation; several health and safety risks; and crucial communication gaps which have ended in a widespread sense of unsafe working conditions among workers.
"The Fair Labor Association gave Apple's largest supplier the equivalent of a whole-body scan through 3,000 staff hours investigating three of its factories and surveying greater than 35,000 workers. Apple and its supplier Foxconn have agreed to our prescriptions, and we shall verify progress and report publicly," said Auret van Heerden, President and CEO of the Fair Labor Association, a coalition of universities, non-profit organizations and businesses committed to improving the health, safety, fair treatment and respect of workers worldwide.
FLA's investigation found that inside the last one year, all three factories exceeded both the FLA Code standard of 60 hours every week (regular plus overtime) and the Chinese legal limits of 40 hours every week and 36 hours maximum overtime per 30 days. During peak production periods, the typical choice of hours worked a week exceeded 60 hours per worker. There have been periods wherein some employees worked greater than seven days in a row without the specified 24 hours off. Full worker survey data is accessible at www.fairlabor.org/affiliate/apple.
Foxconn has committed to bring its factories into full compliance with Chinese legal limits and FLA standards on working hours by July 2013, in accordance with its remediation plan in FLA's report. The supplier will bring working hours consistent with the legal limit of 49 hours every week, including overtime. This implies a discount in monthly overtime hours from 80 to 36, and will be a major improvement because lots of the technology sector is struggling to deal with excessive overtime.
More importantly, while employees will work fewer hours, Foxconn has agreed to develop a compensation package that protects workers from losing income by reason of reduced overtime. A good way to maintain capacity while reducing workers' hours, Foxconn committed to extend its workforce significantly because it builds additional housing and canteen capacity.
FLA also discovered that 14 percent of workers won't receive fair compensation for unscheduled overtime. The assessment found that unscheduled overtime was only paid in 30-minute increments. This implies, for instance, that 29 minutes of overtime work ends up in no pay and 58 minutes leads to just one unit of overtime pay. Foxconn committed to pay workers fairly for all overtime in addition work-related meetings outside of normal working hours. Besides, FLA secured agreement from Foxconn and Apple to retroactively pay any worker due unpaid overtime. The businesses are currently conducting an audit to figure out the payments because of the workers.
Consistent with FLA's worker survey, 64 percent of employees say that compensation would not meet their basic needs. FLA will conduct a price of living study in Shenzhen and Chengdu to aid Foxconn in determining whether worker salaries meet FLA requirements for basic needs, in addition to discretionary income.
FLA observed other serious issues in areas corresponding to health and safety, worker integration and communication, treatment of interns, and China's social security enrollment, among others.
various workers feel interested by the security in their health and safety. Greater than 43 percent of the staff report that they've experienced or witnessed an accident. These accidents range from hand injuries to factory vehicle accidents. Foxconn has committed to be more together with workers in health and safety monitoring and decisions.
Before, Foxconn only recorded accidents that ended in a production stoppage. Beginning immediately, Foxconn committed to require supervisors and workers to report all accidents leading to an injury.
A lot of Foxconn's health and safety problems, including blocked exits, loss of or faulty personal protective equipment and missing permits, were immediately corrected through the process the investigation. FLA found that, 12 months after the Chengdu explosion, Foxconn had improved operating procedures, measurement, and documentation to cut back risks concerning aluminum dust where Apple products are made.
The assessment also found that the union at Foxconn is dominated by management representatives and would not provide true worker representation. According to local laws, Foxconn has agreed to make sure elections of worker representatives without management interference.
FLA also secured agreement by Foxconn to locate different ways to handle low enrollment in social security benefit programs and to evolve its internship program to make sure that interns benefit from the protections necessary for a productive, healthy and safe educational experience.
"If implemented, these commitments will significantly improve the lives of greater than 1.2 million Foxconn employees and set a brand new standard for Chinese factories," van Heerden said.
Following the FLA's methodology, independent assessors logged greater than 3,000 staff hours contained in the factories. They evaluated conditions in line with visual observation and review of policies, procedures and documentation (payroll and time records, production schedules, employee records); interviewed hundreds of Foxconn workers and bosses both on- and rancid-site; and conducted an anonymous worker perception survey of 35,500 randomly-selected Foxconn workers – providing an in-depth understanding of working conditions, particularly during peak production of Apple products.
Under FLA rules, its assessors have unfettered access to conduct thorough investigations of Apple suppliers. This investigation of 3 Foxconn factories at Guanlan, Longhua, and Chengdu, in China is the start of FLA's in-depth, thorough examination of the total operation to evaluate whether workers' rights and labor standards are being respected throughout Apple's supply chain.
"Joining the Fair Labor Association is voluntary. But once a corporate joins, FLA sets the principles of investigations and has full access to any supplier, owns the data collected and publishes its findings and proposals for remedial action," van Heerden said.
As well as follow up studies relating to this primary investigation, FLA will verify Apple's and Foxconn's implementation in their remediation plans and should report publicly on progress.
a whole copy of the report is on the market at www.fairlabor.org/transparency/complaints-investigations.
In regards to the Fair Labor Association: The FLA combines the efforts of socially responsible companies, civil society organizations and colleges and universities to offer protection to workers' rights and improve working conditions worldwide by promoting adherence to international labor standards. The FLA holds companies answerable for monitoring their very own supply chains and conducts independent assessments making sure that the FLA Code of Conduct is upheld. The FLA also acts on and resolves third party complaints and special investigations about workers' rights abuses at specific factories. Through public reporting, the FLA provides consumers with credible information to make responsible buying decision. FLA is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors that features an independent Chair and eighteen members equally representing leading universities, labor and human rights organizations, and firms. For additional info, visit www.fairlabor.org.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Independent Investigation Uncovers Significant Issues; 35,500 Anonymous Surveys Give Voice to Worker Concerns
FLA to watch, Publish Progress Reports on Apple and Foxconn Implementation
WASHINGTON, D.C.- After an intensive, independent investigation found significant issues with working conditions at three factories in China operated by Apple's major supplier Foxconn, the Fair Labor Association secured groundbreaking commitments that would reduce working hours to legal limits while protecting pay, improve health and safety conditions, establish a real voice for employees, and can monitor on an ongoing basis to confirm compliance. The nearly month-long investigation found excessive overtime and issues of overtime compensation; several health and safety risks; and crucial communication gaps which have ended in a widespread sense of unsafe working conditions among workers.
"The Fair Labor Association gave Apple's largest supplier the equivalent of a whole-body scan through 3,000 staff hours investigating three of its factories and surveying greater than 35,000 workers. Apple and its supplier Foxconn have agreed to our prescriptions, and we shall verify progress and report publicly," said Auret van Heerden, President and CEO of the Fair Labor Association, a coalition of universities, non-profit organizations and businesses committed to improving the health, safety, fair treatment and respect of workers worldwide.
FLA's investigation found that inside the last one year, all three factories exceeded both the FLA Code standard of 60 hours every week (regular plus overtime) and the Chinese legal limits of 40 hours every week and 36 hours maximum overtime per 30 days. During peak production periods, the typical choice of hours worked a week exceeded 60 hours per worker. There have been periods wherein some employees worked greater than seven days in a row without the specified 24 hours off. Full worker survey data is accessible at www.fairlabor.org/affiliate/apple.
Foxconn has committed to bring its factories into full compliance with Chinese legal limits and FLA standards on working hours by July 2013, in accordance with its remediation plan in FLA's report. The supplier will bring working hours consistent with the legal limit of 49 hours every week, including overtime. This implies a discount in monthly overtime hours from 80 to 36, and will be a major improvement because lots of the technology sector is struggling to deal with excessive overtime.
More importantly, while employees will work fewer hours, Foxconn has agreed to develop a compensation package that protects workers from losing income by reason of reduced overtime. A good way to maintain capacity while reducing workers' hours, Foxconn committed to extend its workforce significantly because it builds additional housing and canteen capacity.
FLA also discovered that 14 percent of workers won't receive fair compensation for unscheduled overtime. The assessment found that unscheduled overtime was only paid in 30-minute increments. This implies, for instance, that 29 minutes of overtime work ends up in no pay and 58 minutes leads to just one unit of overtime pay. Foxconn committed to pay workers fairly for all overtime in addition work-related meetings outside of normal working hours. Besides, FLA secured agreement from Foxconn and Apple to retroactively pay any worker due unpaid overtime. The businesses are currently conducting an audit to figure out the payments because of the workers.
Consistent with FLA's worker survey, 64 percent of employees say that compensation would not meet their basic needs. FLA will conduct a price of living study in Shenzhen and Chengdu to aid Foxconn in determining whether worker salaries meet FLA requirements for basic needs, in addition to discretionary income.
FLA observed other serious issues in areas corresponding to health and safety, worker integration and communication, treatment of interns, and China's social security enrollment, among others.
various workers feel interested by the security in their health and safety. Greater than 43 percent of the staff report that they've experienced or witnessed an accident. These accidents range from hand injuries to factory vehicle accidents. Foxconn has committed to be more together with workers in health and safety monitoring and decisions.
Before, Foxconn only recorded accidents that ended in a production stoppage. Beginning immediately, Foxconn committed to require supervisors and workers to report all accidents leading to an injury.
A lot of Foxconn's health and safety problems, including blocked exits, loss of or faulty personal protective equipment and missing permits, were immediately corrected through the process the investigation. FLA found that, 12 months after the Chengdu explosion, Foxconn had improved operating procedures, measurement, and documentation to cut back risks concerning aluminum dust where Apple products are made.
The assessment also found that the union at Foxconn is dominated by management representatives and would not provide true worker representation. According to local laws, Foxconn has agreed to make sure elections of worker representatives without management interference.
FLA also secured agreement by Foxconn to locate different ways to handle low enrollment in social security benefit programs and to evolve its internship program to make sure that interns benefit from the protections necessary for a productive, healthy and safe educational experience.
"If implemented, these commitments will significantly improve the lives of greater than 1.2 million Foxconn employees and set a brand new standard for Chinese factories," van Heerden said.
Following the FLA's methodology, independent assessors logged greater than 3,000 staff hours contained in the factories. They evaluated conditions in line with visual observation and review of policies, procedures and documentation (payroll and time records, production schedules, employee records); interviewed hundreds of Foxconn workers and bosses both on- and rancid-site; and conducted an anonymous worker perception survey of 35,500 randomly-selected Foxconn workers – providing an in-depth understanding of working conditions, particularly during peak production of Apple products.
Under FLA rules, its assessors have unfettered access to conduct thorough investigations of Apple suppliers. This investigation of 3 Foxconn factories at Guanlan, Longhua, and Chengdu, in China is the start of FLA's in-depth, thorough examination of the total operation to evaluate whether workers' rights and labor standards are being respected throughout Apple's supply chain.
"Joining the Fair Labor Association is voluntary. But once a corporate joins, FLA sets the principles of investigations and has full access to any supplier, owns the data collected and publishes its findings and proposals for remedial action," van Heerden said.
As well as follow up studies relating to this primary investigation, FLA will verify Apple's and Foxconn's implementation in their remediation plans and should report publicly on progress.
a whole copy of the report is on the market at www.fairlabor.org/transparency/complaints-investigations.
In regards to the Fair Labor Association: The FLA combines the efforts of socially responsible companies, civil society organizations and colleges and universities to offer protection to workers' rights and improve working conditions worldwide by promoting adherence to international labor standards. The FLA holds companies answerable for monitoring their very own supply chains and conducts independent assessments making sure that the FLA Code of Conduct is upheld. The FLA also acts on and resolves third party complaints and special investigations about workers' rights abuses at specific factories. Through public reporting, the FLA provides consumers with credible information to make responsible buying decision. FLA is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors that features an independent Chair and eighteen members equally representing leading universities, labor and human rights organizations, and firms. For additional info, visit www.fairlabor.org.
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