Can Entertainment Stem Foxconn Suicides?

Will some song and dance put smiles on Foxconn Workers?

Remember the good ol’ days of sweatshops? People toiled long hours for very little pay, but gosh ‘darn it, they were happy to have a job. These kids today, they aren’t grateful for the $100 they earn each month assembling iPods. That seems to be the message coming from Apple supplier Foxconn about why it is introducing ‘entertainment’ to boost the spirits of otherwise-suicidal workers.

“Unlike the previous generation of workers that regarded work and basic necessities as top priorities in life, post 80s workers don’t just work for money,” a special assistant to the chairman of Hon Hai, which trademarks the Foxconn name, told the Wall Street Journal Friday. About three-quarters of Foxconn’s workers are between 18 and 24 years old.

After trying suicide nets, increased pay and considering shipping workers out of town, Apple’s No. 1 supplier now thinks a bit of Hollywood will keep deaths down. Recently, thousands of workers got into costume, sang, danced and paraded in what must have been a pure YouTube moment.

In June, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the China workers suicides were “troubling,” but noted all of the recreational opportunities already available after a long day assembling iPhones. “It’s a factory, but my gosh, they have restaurants and movie theaters, but it’s a factory,” he told an audience at the All Things D Conference.

[AppleInsider, WSJ]

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About the author

Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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LGgeek
Considering the paranoia at the Apple campus in Cupertino were people expecting Jobs to be sympathetic to the Chinese workers. Hell if Jobs could get away with it he would have 1 Infinite Loop remodeled to be like the Chinese factory dorms and never let any of “his workers” go home. As it is if you interview with them you are told you will have to give up your life because the company comes before family.
Figurative
So wait a minute. I thought Foxconn’s suicide rate was equal or less than the rate of the local population?
When you employ SO MANY people – the equivalent of a medium sized city in the USA, you’re bound to have a certain percentage of incidents.
This is only a big media deal because of the Apple connection.
Move away, there’s nothing to see here folks.
porkchop1234
@Figurative
Tell you what man go pack your kids and wife up and go work there. I’m sure its a freaking love fest of happy kids thrilled to work 100 plus hour weeks involving repetitive jobs where you’re not even allowed to talk.
If you’re not willing to put your money where your mouth is you should just STFU. That old excuse quoting stats is a load of bull and anyone who doesn’t drink the cool aid knows it. Nobodies stupid so stop insulting the intelligence of the users on here.
Figurative
Well porkchop,
Consider that it wasn’t that long ago that these people used to work in the fields and crops for 100 or more hours per week and got paid far less. The vast majority of Foxconn employees are very happy with their jobs and their newfound income.
So why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and refuse to buy any electronics products made in China.
By the way, it isn’t “Nobodies” it’s “Nobody’s”
“…Nobodies stupid so stop insulting the intelligence of the users on here.”
JVC
I find Figurative’s comments to be insensitive. Although I don’t blame everything for Apple for Foxconn suicides, Apple should be concerned about the situation.
As far as I heard from people who’ve been to Shenzhen, China, it is no happy town (at least for locals.) Most of the factory workers are from villages, who have no or very few friends, or relatives live in Shenzhen area. I think many of them feel lonely. It is very hot and humid in summer, which makes the air pollution even worse. I see why suicide rate is high in Shenzhen.
And Figurative pointing out porkchop’s misspelling word, I found it kind of low-blow.
Thomas
All they have to do to end the string of suicides is stop the lavish benefits for the families of those who commit suicide.
As long as the employee’s family will be set for life after the employee’s suicide, suicide will remain a real option. Foxconn’s policy actually economically encourages suicide, and makes it into a viable option for some.
http://www.gofishfind.info/rss/6.xml Gregory
Ive got some good party ideas from this. Halloween is gonna be a good one! Thank you