Press Release: Apple News Site Challlenges Steve Jobs to China Factory Visit

by Eric March on August 5, 2008 at 12:43 pm

You may recall some time ago that criticisms were leveled against Foxconn, the company that puts together their iPhones and iPod Touches, for maintaining an inhumane work environment. An investigation by Apple revealed that there were some overtime violations and some rather questionable living conditions for the workers (as seen in the dim, grainy image, which you can click on to see in larger view, not that it helps any), and Foxconn were cited for their violations and vowed to clean up their act.

Now it seems that The Steve is being called out again, but this time for how things might turn out. With Apple’s recent ramping of production to meet global demand, The Digital Lifestyle’s Ryan Ritchey thinks that this could once again plunge Foxconn’s already questionable employment ethics into another controversy as the factory begins increasing production beyond their current comfort zone, and Ritchey is challenging Jobs to come take a visit to the factory to see how things really are, as noted in this press release:

Philadelphia, PA – Ryan Ritchey, the producer of The Digital Lifestyle, today posted a blog entry challenging Apple CEO Steve Jobs to an iPhone factory visit in China.

In 2006, Apple investigated wrongdoing at a Foxconn location due to press reports of inhumane conditions. Apple’s own report found overtime violations and some questionable living quarters.

Ritchey said he is bringing up the factory visit now because of reports of increased iPhone production, beyond full capacity at Foxconn. “If there ever was a time that a precariously close to inhumane work environment could go over the edge, this new production ramp would be it,” Ritchey said.

The blog points out that its not so much that human rights abuses are suspected, so much as there’s a cloud of ambiguity hanging over the production facilities. “Go to China, Steve. Look firsthand at just how Apple products are manufactured. We’ll happily go along, and vow to never raise the subject again if everything checks out,” Ritchey said.

Steve Jobs needs to go to China
The Digital Lifestyle

The Digital Lifestyle was founded in November 2007 as the only 24-hour online video network dedicated to Apple news, rumors, and lifestyle. The network was created by former Apple employees who bring a unique perspective to current Apple news and rumors.

In other words, there’s no evidence that anything untoward is going on at the factory, but given the production increase and Foxconn’s checkered past, there’s always the chance that the suits over in Taiwan could start cracking the whips while shredding the charter of human rights in a convenient “oopsie.”

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