It’s no surprise that Foxconn, the Chinese manufacturing plant infamously known for its harsh working conditions, recently came under fire when it was inspected by the Fair Labor Association (FLA). The FLA discovered that Foxconn violated at least 43 Chinese laws and regulations and various industry codes of conduct by having its employees work over 60 hours a week and sometimes more than 11 days in a row. The results of the FLA inspection were based on a survey of over 35,000 Foxconn employees – with 43% of them having witnessed or experienced accidents, and almost 66% saying their compensation didn’t meet their basic needs.
Foxconn announced that it would be reducing working hours and significantly increasing wages in its plants though they didn’t mention by how much. However, if it is significant enough, Foxconn’s changes could kickstart a change in working conditions throughout the China. The company reportedly makes 40% of the world’s electronic products, and is China’s largest private employer, with 1.2 million people in its workforce.
With employees working less hours and wages not receiving a cut, Foxconn will have to hire more people in order to maintain its product output – which could translate into higher prices for electronics, unless companies are willing to lower their profit margins. Read more at the source link below.
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