Foxconn forcing university students to manufacture iPhones?

Posted on Friday, September 07 2012 @ 19:20 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
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According to a report from Shanghai Daily, thousands of university students from Huai'an in China's Jiangsu Province are being forced to manufacture iPhones because Foxconn failed to find sufficient workers for the production of Apple's upcoming iPhone 5.

The paper claims authorities have ordered some schools to send students to assist Foxconn with iPhone 5 production, and teachers from local schools reportedly admitted in a China National Radio report that routine classes were suspended for the next one or two months. They described the forced labor as a compulsory course for students to "experience working conditions and promote individual ability".

Students working at the production line are being compensated with 1550 yuan, about US$242, per month for working 12 hours a day, six days a week. Foxconn neither informed parents nor signed agreements with students, and according to the report some institutions would punish students who had tried to leave the factory.
A Jiangsu Institute of Finance and Economy student called Youyoyu said students from departments of law, English and management were all working at the plant.

A Huai'an University student posting under the name of Dalingzhuimengnan said Foxconn was badly in need of 10,000 workers but students were looking forward to returning to classrooms to continue their academic studies which had been seriously disrupted.

MengniuIQ84 wrote that the authorities had ordered the schools to send students to assist Foxconn but said that the factory neither informed parents nor signed agreements with students.

One or two schools had canceled their internship programs with Foxcon after media exposure and pressure from the public, she said, but her institute had no plans to do so and had even punished students who had tried to leave the factory.
Source: BGR


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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