Digital Home Thoughts: Will Someone Please Think of the Foxconn Workers?

"While the report doesn't comment on the company's management and support networks (or the lack of) for front-line workers, it appears that the real problem lies in Chinese workers' definition of a "good factory" -- one that pays more by means of offering overtime hours. It's clear what's causing this perception -- there's the sub-standard minimum wage in Shenzhen, and then there are the companies abusing this fact to lure workers with overtime hours above the legal limit."

Factory workers in China is a nice, friendly, charged topic. The topic comes up when someone mentions Walmart, lead paint in children's toys, Apple's products, the list goes on. The most recent exposure highlights two issues with me. First, there are the conditions of working in a factory in China, of which I am of mixed feelings. Sure, the amount they are paid sounds like a pittance in Canada, and the hours worked sound dreadful. However, I also recognize the situation that China is in with developing its infrastructure and economy. When I compare the wages workers earn to what a subsistence farm (not just one person, but the whole farm) makes, the hourly wages suddenly seem quite decent. I also suspect that it would be a considerable disruption to the economy if workers were paid wages comparable to here, potentially making other people destitute beyond belief. The more important aspect of the reports coming out of these factories is that there definitely seems to be a pattern of abuse. China does have labour laws, and factories like Foxconn have been shown to violate those laws. I certainly hope that stops, and it looks like with constant attention from the world, these incidents will be reduced. Unfortunately, I do not think it will ever stop. The overtime abuse in China reminds me of the case between Electronic Arts and some of its employees, and that is in the United States! Exploitation seems to be a universal constant.