So now the iPad is killing people. Are the gadgets really worth that much? It's a stark reminder about working conditions in China with reports that another employee has jumped to their death at the Taiwan owned Foxconn plant which manufactures the Mac mini, the iPod, the iPad, and the iPhone for Apple, not to mention other devices for other companies. It's the 10th suicide for Apple's largest Chinese manufacturer this year, and others have tried.
According to this report, the company is now asking its employees to sign a "no suicide" pledge. How do you enforce something like that?
The Daily Telegraph reveals that employees have to work there 70 hours a week. The factory has been losing 50,000 workers a month because they just get burnt out. When they're not working, their hands are twitching. Western demand for the products is so hot they have to keep going.
This might be stopped if you had companies like Apple and Dell stepping in and telling the factory to clean up its act. While these outfits claim to have agreements with their suppliers not to employ children, no one knows exactly how these agreements are monitored and enforced. These so-called agreements are just PR.
As ZDNet's Tom Foremski says, it might be time for Fair Trade electronics. Think back to the time when PCs cost $5000. People paid willingly, so they're likely to pay a premium for Fair Trade electronic goods.
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