Apple Corporate

Former factory workers add pleas to sign Apple labor petition

Two former Wintek employees who say they suffered permanent health problems while assembling iPhones in 2009 have come out in support of a petition asking Apple to demand better working conditions at overseas factories.

In a statement today, Guo Rui-Qiang and Jia Jing-Chuan, who were among those who suffered health problems as a result of exposure to n-hexane, a toxic chemical that was being used in a China factory as a cleaning agent, are asking more people to sign the petition ahead of Apple's annual shareholders meeting tomorrow.

"We have been pressuring Apple, and its new CEO Tim … Read more

Watchdog group: Foxconn hid young workers before inspection

Foxconn, an Apple manufacturing partner, has been leveled with an accusation regarding teenage workers, even as the Fair Labor Association inspects its facilities.

Speaking in an interview published today by AppleInsider, Debby Sze Wan Chan, project officer of the Hong Kong-based not-for-profit Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), said that Foxconn moved younger workers and banned them from overtime ahead Apple's of requested audits by the Fair Labor Association, an independent group.

"All underage workers, between 16-17 years old, were not assigned any overtime work and some of them were even sent to other departments," Chan … Read more

Apple confirms plans to build data center in Oregon

A 160-acre parcel of land has been signed over to Apple and will be used to build a data center, an Oregon TV station reported today, confirming a long-standing rumor.

The piece of land in Prineville cost the company $5.6 million and the deal, formerly known as "Project Maverick," has been quietly in the works for months, according to a KTVZ.com report. An Apple representative confirmed to the station that the company purchased the land for a data center but declined to comment further.

Before the deed was signed over last week, no one was allowed … Read more

Apple planning environmental audits of Chinese supply chain

Apple's Chinese supply chain has come under fire over the years for its allegedly poor environmental record. But according to a new report, Apple now plans to address that with independent audits.

Apple is bringing in independent environmental auditors to at least two supplier factories in China, USA Today reported yesterday, citing environmental activists. Speaking to USA Today, Ma Jun, founder of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPEA), said that Apple agreed to the reviews in January and will allow auditors in two facilities, possibly starting in March.

The reviews, Ma told USA Today, will focus on … Read more

Lower Chinese court rules iPads should be pulled from retailers

A court in China has ruled that retailers should cease iPad sales, dealing a setback to Apple in its battle for the iPad trademark in that country.

Xie Xianghui, a lawyer for Shenzhen-based Proview Technology, told the Associated Press that the Intermediate People's Court in the city of Huizhou made the ruling Friday.

However, the report says the ruling is not expected to have a far-reaching effect, noting that Proview has asked commercial authorities to block iPad sales in 40 cities. Apple representatives did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the ruling, but the company has … Read more

Apple touts N.C. solar array in environmental footprint report

Apple's massive North Carolina data center will be powered by the nation's largest end-user-owned solar array, the company revealed today in a report on its environmental footprint.

The facility, which is being constructed in Maiden, N.C., has been awarded LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the company said in its report.

"We know of no other data center of comparable size that has achieved this level of LEED certification," the company said in its report. "Our goal is to run the Maiden facility with high percentage renewable energy mix." … Read more

ABC peeks into Apple factory's working conditions

ABC is touting an inside look at the working conditions in Foxconn, a key vendor for Apple and other major technology companies.

The report airs Tuesday night on the network's Nightline news program, with a preview already up on its site.

Apple has faced increasing criticism from advocate groups, which are calling for the construction of a more ethical iPhone and an improvement in the conditions at the suppliers that the company works with. Groups have already delivered hundreds of thousands of petitions to Apple stores around the world.

The criticism was largely sparked by a series of articles … Read more

Apple supplier Foxconn says it will raise salaries

Infamous Apple supplier Foxconn said this weekend that it would increase worker salaries at its Chinese factories by 16 percent to 25 percent--bringing them to about $400 a month.

The New York Times reported the news, adding that Foxconn said the increases would happen immediately and that overtime hours would be curbed at the factories as well.

Foxconn's announcement comes as its facilities are being investigated at the behest of Apple, a major Foxconn client. Foxconn produces components for the iPad and the iPhone.

Apple is feeling the heat from human rights advocates and others after the Times published … Read more

Ahead of report, FLA chief says Foxconn has 'tons of issues'

Though a full report from the Fair Labor Association's audit of Foxconn isn't expected till next month, the group's head says the FLA has already found "tons of issues."

In a telephone interview with Bloomberg, FLA Chief Executive Auret van Heerden told the outlet that the group had found "tons of issues," and that "I believe we're going to see some very significant announcements in the near future."

What those issues are were not disclosed by van Heerden, Bloomberg reported.

The remarks come just a few days after van Heerden … Read more