Comments on: Apple and Foxconn to engage in Fair Labor Audit http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 12:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: lecti http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1348238 lecti Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1348238 Better than smug indignation toward not meeting made-up high standards that others never need to meet themselves. Better than smug indignation toward not meeting made-up high standards that others never need to meet themselves.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1347919 EH Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1347919 You're right. We should support Apple and the efforts of their made-up labor association. You’re right. We should support Apple and the efforts of their made-up labor association.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1346359 EH Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1346359 That was my second question: who the f* is "Fair Labor Association?" I mean really. It would look better with the word "Coby" in front of it. That was my second question: who the f* is “Fair Labor Association?” I mean really. It would look better with the word “Coby” in front of it.

]]> By: Shinkuhadoken http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1346296 Shinkuhadoken Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1346296 It may surprise you to learn that international companies have been doing "third party audits" on working conditions since the 1990s in order to be labeled "ethical." These companies can not only market themselves as caring for the plight of their third world workers, but their company can be included in exclusive "ethical" investment packages where conscientious investors will fund them. But what's not surprising is that this is usually a sham. Inspectors are poorly funded, poorly trained, easily bribed, and not really in a position to be listened to if violations are noted (most "action plans" go unfulfilled). The "ethical" <i>brand</i> is all the company is after, not actually <i>being</i> ethical, and the inspections are the song and dance in which to obtain it (so the company and its consumers can go back to ignoring the deplorable conditions of their workers). Apple is just using the same 20 year old proven method of making its bad Foxconn PR go away, just like any other company would. It may surprise you to learn that international companies have been doing “third party audits” on working conditions since the 1990s in order to be labeled “ethical.” These companies can not only market themselves as caring for the plight of their third world workers, but their company can be included in exclusive “ethical” investment packages where conscientious investors will fund them.

But what’s not surprising is that this is usually a sham. Inspectors are poorly funded, poorly trained, easily bribed, and not really in a position to be listened to if violations are noted (most “action plans” go unfulfilled). The “ethical” brand is all the company is after, not actually being ethical, and the inspections are the song and dance in which to obtain it (so the company and its consumers can go back to ignoring the deplorable conditions of their workers).

Apple is just using the same 20 year old proven method of making its bad Foxconn PR go away, just like any other company would.

]]> By: lecti http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1346169 lecti Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1346169 Cynicism ad absurdium by some of the negative reactions. Ok, what are these people going to complain about next,  Apple making money? Keep me entertained. Cynicism ad absurdium by some of the negative reactions.

Ok, what are these people going to complain about next,  Apple making money? Keep me entertained.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1346056 bardfinn Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1346056 And by announcing it, the audit is completely worthless. And by announcing it, the audit is completely worthless.

]]> By: flickerKuu http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1346042 flickerKuu Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1346042 Yes, instead of bashing Apple that is actually doing an audit, how about bashing the 8000 other companies going busienss as usual. Where do you thing all your droid phones are built? Next door in a factory with WORSE labor codes. Yes, instead of bashing Apple that is actually doing an audit, how about bashing the 8000 other companies going busienss as usual. Where do you thing all your droid phones are built? Next door in a factory with WORSE labor codes.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1345996 travtastic Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1345996 Oh, so their suppliers will give them more money than the basic Economic Slavery Technician package? Oh, so their suppliers will give them more money than the basic Economic Slavery Technician package?

]]> By: jon29 http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1345936 jon29 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1345936 An appeal to hypocrisy after only 2 comments? Well played indeed. An appeal to hypocrisy after only 2 comments? Well played indeed.

]]> By: xian http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1345924 xian Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1345924 I was just wondering, when is Samsung going to hire a third party to audit the working conditions of the factories they use? Sony? Dell? Microsoft? Amazon? Nintendo? Acer? Nokia? Cisco? Motorola? I was just wondering, when is Samsung going to hire a third party to audit the working conditions of the factories they use? Sony? Dell? Microsoft? Amazon? Nintendo? Acer? Nokia? Cisco? Motorola?

]]> By: lafave http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1345876 lafave Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1345876 Apple's own audit showed that the Chinese suppliers routinely (1) violated the contract between Apple and the supplier, (2) violated the contracts between the supplier and the employees, and (3) violated Chinese laws. This new audit is just bullshit PR crap for Western consumers.   See Gresham's dynamic - only cheaters can win bids.  China is fraud-friendly. Apple’s own audit showed that the Chinese suppliers routinely (1) violated the contract between Apple and the supplier, (2) violated the contracts between the supplier and the employees, and (3) violated Chinese laws.

This new audit is just bullshit PR crap for Western consumers.   See Gresham’s dynamic – only cheaters can win bids.  China is fraud-friendly.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/02/14/apple-and-foxconn-to-engage-in.html#comment-1345863 EH Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=143927#comment-1345863 TRANSLATION: Apple is going to redefine the concept of "fair labor" in its own interests. TRANSLATION: Apple is going to redefine the concept of “fair labor” in its own interests.

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