Authorities in China are trying to deal with a cluster of suicides at a factory that employs 300,000 workers near Shenzhen.
A 19-year-old worker was the ninth successful suicide at Foxconn’s Longhua factory. Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, makes Apple iPads and also assembles goods for Sony, Nintendo, Dell and Nokia.
There have been at least two other known unsuccessful attempts, and the company says it has prevented 20 other attempts this year.
Foxconn has admitted that it had paid “insufficient attention” to the well being of its workers. It’s promised to hire 2,000 therapists.
Meanwhile, in the company’s lobby, protesters laid mannequins to rest and conducted traditional Chinese funeral rites.
Questions are being raised about the sustainability of China’s manufacturing model, which relies on long hours from its workers. Typical work weeks include seven 12-hour days.
