FLA has launched an independent investigation into labour rights allegations at Foxconn, an Apple supplier factory in Shenzhen, China. The investigation comes after reports of poor conditions for workers at Foxconn facilities. When Apple joined FLA last January, GoodElectronics and makeITfair announced to be watching closely to see whether FLA membership means Apple takes action on key problems within its supply chain.
FLA reports to have launched an independent investigation into labor
rights allegations at Foxconn, an Apple supplier factory in Shenzhen,
China. The investigation comes after reports of poor conditions for
workers at Foxconn facilities.
Apple joined the FLA as a Participating Company last month. Like all FLA Participating Companies, Apple has agreed to uphold FLA's Workplace Code of Conduct throughout its supply chain.
The FLA assembled a team of labor experts to conduct the investigation, including FLA staff and representatives from Openview and INFACT, two accredited service providers. Assessors will visit an additional Foxconn facility in Chengdu, China, in the next few weeks. A report of findings from the investigation will be available at Fair Labor Association in March.
In response to the news about Apple joining FLA, makeITfair and GoodElectronics issued a statement asking the question if this is genuine effort by Apple to clean up labour abuses in its supply chain, or merely a way of proving its credentials without actually delivering? For GoodElectronics and makeITfair it is too early to tell. The FLA obligation is to become compliant within the next two years. GoodElectronics and makeITfair will be watching closely to see whether FLA membership means Apple takes action on key problems within its supply chain. The FLA investigation into Foxconn's production facility for Apple in Shenzhen is welcomed.
