10 workers commit suicide at Apple 's Foxconn in China:The iPad: how much does it cost again?

Tuesday 6.2.10]..13 workers at Apple's Foxconn factory in China have attempted suicides this year. 10 have succeeded.

Apple's CEO, Steve Job said today that the company is "troubled" and that they were giving it their full attention. Foxconn, one of their giant factories in Shenzhen, China, have produced such popular gadgets as the iPhone and iPad.

What is going on? Are workers working in a hostile environment? Is Foxconn more sweat shop than sophisticated high tech complex? Apple is quick to squash any such accusations and assures the public than the factory operates and follows all legal and humane guidelines.

So what caused 13 Foxconn/Apple workers to try to take their lives? Lets not forget sadly,10 were successful. It's important to note that workers eat, sleep, and work at the giant complex. In fact, they practically live there. How many of us would like to eat, sleep and socialize where we work? Hmmmm.

Employees are paid approximately $235 monthly, which includes room and board. Some earn even less.There have been three instances of child labor at the plant, but Apple management vowed to be more vigilant in the future and stressed that they do not operate that way.

Some of the other tech companies operating in Shenzhen,China are Hewlett-Packard, HP, Sony,Nokia and Nintendo. Cheap labor plus high retail price equals astronomical profits. But at what price to the lowly worker on the production floor?

How much do we pay for these electronic toys on our end? The iPhone, iPod and the latest, the iPad? Some of us lined up around the block and waited overnight, just for a chance to purchase the highly anticipated/hyped IPhone when it first arrived on the US market. I think the latest iPad is doing surprising well at $600. or $700. a pad. Hmmmmm.

Written by veronica P Roberts 6.2.10 All Rights Reserved.

UPDATE: 6.3-10

Acccording to TechWeb, workers at Foxconn will receive a salary increase of about 30-33%. This will bring some workers basic salary from $131 a month to $175, or about a 33% increase. Workers already earning more than $131 and assembly line managers and group leaders will receive a hike of at least 30 percent, with details to be released later.

Workers at Foxconn receive a wage comprised of a monthly base salary, housing subsidy (around $22) and overtime. Before the wage hike, the typical worker earned around $220 to $235. With the change, that should rise to almost $295.

Foxconn stresses however, that this increase is not as a result of the rash of suicides and is not a PR stunt. Hmmmmmm.

Foxconn is also beefing up security around the plant and is also making workers promise not to commit suicide.

Improvement? Maybe. Problem solved? I highly doubt it.

By Veronica P Roberts 6.3.10