9 suicides in 5 months at huge iPad factory
May 28, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
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.
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May 28th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
One factory that employees 300 thousand workers, Jeez.
June 1st, 2010 at 10:09 am
We can probably conclude that there is just a “little” stress here. 300,000 workers in one factory…everyone is probably ignored. No one would even notice if an indivaidual had a serious problem. Because there is little detail in this story other than the employees worked 7 -12’s it’s difficult to formulate an opinion. If this happend in the states OSHA would probably shut it down and investigate until we reached a root cause of the actual problem. The fact that the company promised to hire 2,000 therapist suggests they know what the problem is. We in the U.S.A need to keep a watchful eye as we move in the same direction. Since we are downsizing, rightsizing and doing more with less the stress levels here are increasing exponentialy.
June 2nd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
How many suicides happen per year in the average city with a population of 300,000? Not saying work isn’t contributing, but statistically how does this stack up?
June 8th, 2010 at 8:44 am
7 12’s per week. Even slaves didn’t have those hours.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:59 am
300,000 workers in a single plant???? Could this be right? Or should I say correct; it’s obviously not right.
I tend to agree with NET. What’s the suicide stat for a city of 300,000 (in China).
June 8th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Is this Communist China…?
June 8th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Even God rested on the seventh day.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Let’s see, is it the hours that cause the problem, or are there other causes? I often worked hours significantly longer for the U.S. Air Force and survived. I worked two full-time jobs (16 hours-5 days/week) and survived. I also worked 12 hour days at one job and six at another and survived. I know many people who have done the same.
This is much more about people’s lives outside of work or in addition to other working conditions that matter. It is a matter of hope vs. no light at the end of a very dark tunnel (Communist China). It is about life’s meaning and much more.
Look beyond the easy before attempting to draw a meaningful analogy to conditions in the U.S.
June 10th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Hey Bill, I feel you. I see though that the last one was a 19 yr old. It seems that Young people are made to work, and therefore are unable to do anything outside work. Situations like this truely may make it seem like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. (can we say “thankl God for America?”) I would like to see what the age of the others were..??
June 15th, 2010 at 8:01 am
[...] after the recent suicide of a 19-year-old worker, the company admitted it had paid “insufficient attention” to the well-being of its [...]