Fair Labor Association Finds Foxconn Factory "First Class," Says Labor Watchdog

Richard.Tao writes "The Fair Labor Association found that Apple's plant where iPhones and iPads are far better than those at garment factories or other facilities elsewhere in the country. A quote: 'The lead investigator stated "The facilities are first-class; the physical conditions are way, way above average of the norm."' Which leaves the question, what is the acceptable norm?"

So which report do we believe?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-17/foxconn-auditor-finds-tons-of-issues-.html [bloomberg.com]

Re:Fair Labor Assoc. == Apple Shill group

[mariasama16]

"The Fair Labor Association found that Apple's plant where iPhones and iPads are far better than those at garment factories or other facilities elsewhere in the country. A quote: 'The lead investigator stated "The facilities are first-class; the physical conditions are way, way above average of the norm."' Which leaves the question, what is the acceptable norm?"

Translation: So the manacles are in better condition, they're punished with lifetime imprisonment versus death in other places, and the slaves are kept in slightly better conditions - but are still slaves given that one risks imprisonment or death if you speak out against Foxconn or the like.

So this organization is only a whitewash group for Apple.

Not so. /. has the older story of the initial impressions by the FLA. The new one today (reported on by Bloomberg), instead says:

“We’re finding tons of issues,” van Heerden said en route to a meeting where FLA inspectors were scheduled to present preliminary findings to Foxconn management. “I believe we’re going to see some very significant announcements in the near future.”

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-17/foxconn-auditor-finds-tons-of-issues-.html [bloomberg.com]

Can we check our sources, please?

[j_f_chamblee]

The Reuters article is just one of a couple following the F.L.A.'s inspection of the Foxconn Plant. There is a slightly longer, but much more critical article by the New York Times [nytimes.com]. Looks as if /. editor's are doing is some editorializing of their own, too. From the "what-is-the-right-question" department, eh? How about from the "now-we-are-shilling-for-apple" department?

The Fair Labor Assn is anything but

[RandCraw]

CNN has a nice article that puts "The Fair Labor Association" in proper perspective:

"Apple's major move has been to announce that it has joined an organization called the Fair Labor Association, which will "audit" Apple's factories. According to Apple, the Fair Labor Association is an independent watchdog that will work tenaciously to hold Apple and its suppliers accountable.

Unfortunately, while there are some fine people at the association, the organization is not the independent watchdog Apple claims it to be. Indeed, most of its money -- millions of dollars per year -- comes from the very companies whose labor practices it is supposed to scrutinize. Although Apple has not disclosed its financial relationship with the Fair Labor Association, it is likely now the organization's largest funder. Moreover, on the association's board of directors sit executives of major corporations such as Nike, Adidas and agribusiness giant Syngenta. The job of these executives is to represent the interests of other member companies, such as Apple. Under the Fair Labor Association's rules, the company representatives on the board exercise veto power over major decisions."

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/17/opinion/nova-apple-foxconn/index.html/ [cnn.com]

Re:Perspective, People

[Dupple]

Well they don't keep committing suicide. As fas as I know you can only do it once.

The potential suicides were at the Microsoft part of the plant - and I'm not even sure they jumped

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/11/foxconn_mass_suicide/ [theregister.co.uk]