Foxconn suicides
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The Foxconn suicides occurred between January and November 2010 when eighteen[1] Foxconn employees attempted suicide with fourteen deaths.[1][2][3] The suicides drew media attention, and employment practices at Foxconn, a large contract manufacturer, were investigated by several of its customers including Apple and HP.[4] Foxconn is a major manufacturer that has catered to such companies as Apple, Dell, HP, Motorola, Nintendo, Nokia, and Sony.[4]
The suicides prompted 20 Chinese universities to compile a report on Foxconn, which they described as a labour camp.[2] Other experts have claimed that employees are treated comparatively well at Foxconn,[5] but news reports have been critical. Long working hours,[5] discrimination of mainland Chinese workers by their Taiwanese coworkers,[6] and a lack of working relationships[7] have all been held up as potential problems.
The suicide rate at Foxconn during the suicide spate remained lower than that of the general Chinese population[8] as well as all 50 states in the United States.[9] Additionally the Foxconn deaths may have been a product of economic conditions external to the company. In China in 2010 there were several major strike actions at other high-profile manufacturers in China, and the Lewisian turning-point is a macro-economic factor that may provide context for the events.[10]
In response to the suicides, Foxconn substantially increased wages for its Shenzhen factory workforce,[11] installed suicide-prevention netting,[12] and asked employees to sign no-suicide pledges.[13] Workers were also forced to sign a legally binding document guaranteeing that they and their descendants would not sue the company as a result of unexpected death, self-injury, or suicide.[14
Hmmmmm. . .
I have a feeling there is more to this story than
Clo ever read about.
Zim.
Mad Poet Strikes Again.
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