Apple & China

[Rico]

This type of story has been getting a lot of play in the news lately about Apple factories in China and the poor work conditions, crazy hours, and general lack of safety in many areas there.  Now, I know LOTS of companies have very similar issues (I have seen some of it first hand).  But this being Apple and with their almost hard to comprehend profit margins they definitely are in the spotlight.  Some are talking boycott.  What I find sort of amusing is the rhetoric of "we are looking into it", etc...  It really doesn't take a lot of looking into to see the problems.  I think people would like to see some action taken.  Anyway, interesting article below.  Discuss...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/29/apple-faces-boycott-worker-abuses

[Bryancd]

I watch financial news all day, no one is talking about this. Not to say it's not an issue, but it's certainly isn't part of the daily business world conversation regarding the company. Reminds me of the antennae issue people were getting all excised about..

And The Gaurdian is a somewhat liberal media biased UK newspaper.

[Rico]

Bryan, it might not be in the financial news but it's been ALL over the tech news for awhile now...

http://www.pcworld.com/article/249100/apple_boycott_urged_over_foxconn_investigation.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399671,00.asp

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/31/connecting-the-dots-mapping-apples-development-and-manufacturing-process/

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/30/apple-wrestles-with-its-china-problem/

[Bryancd]

Yeah, the tech news are the same yahoo's who claimed the antennae in the iPhone would result in massive class action suits. I consider it noise, they are al about sensational hype and hyperbole, not real financial news. Put another way, don't hold your breath for a boycott of Apple or any US company over working conditions in China.

[Rico]

I kind of think you are missing my point Bryan.  I don't care about the boycott.  I don't care if they make billions and zillions more.  I care about people having to work as hard as this in unsafe conditions.  I care about people dying when their factory explodes in a cloud of aluminum dust.  That's my point.

[Bryancd]

I agree and that's an issue far beyond the American peoples political or economic will to resolve. It must come from within and the Chinese are trying to aggressively grow their economy and it won't always be pretty, but it's their country to administer. It's not Apple or anyother US company doing this, it's companies in China who manufacture components who engage in these practices. Americans want their consumer electronics as cheap as possible and for the most part don't want to know how the sausage is made.

But the title to the post is "Apple and China" not about general poor work conditions and your concern for that issue. Also keep in mind how many millions of Chinese have economically benefited from the growth of commerce in their country and have been raised out of poverty. Works both ways.

[QuadShot]

I thought the title "Apple and China" referred to eating fruit off of fine dinning plates :)

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I agree with Bryan.  It's a lot of noise by the same people who like to make noise. 

However, Apple, and the other US companies could choose to make their products in the US.  But there is no practical reason for them to do so...

King

[Bryancd]

However, Apple, and the other US companies could choose to make their products in the US.  But there is no practical reason for them to do so...

King

Yeah, it would be great and all our little doodads would cost 4x as much.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

However, Apple, and the other US companies could choose to make their products in the US.  But there is no practical reason for them to do so...

King

Yeah, it would be great and all our little doodads would cost 4x as much.

And no laws exist which forbid the current situation either.  There is nothing we can do about it at this point and time...

King

[Bromptonboy]

It does take some of the pristine shine off of Apple's image - and remind us that they are a business.  Next thing you know, they will tell us that Birkenstocks are made in a mill like this..  ;)

[billybob476]

It does take some of the pristine shine off of Apple's image - and remind us that they are a business.  Next thing you know, they will tell us that Birkenstocks are made in a mill like this..  ;)

Paying 2500 dollars for my MacBook Pro reminded me they are a business!