Apple’s Chinese Supplier Catcher Technology Flouts Labor and Environmental Standards, Say Watchdog Groups
Apple finds itself the target of new criticism from U.S. watchdogs after a report highlighting the supplier's shortcomings and unsafe standards. The report explains how Apple's supplier Catcher Technology Inc. disregards labor laws and environmental standards.
Two U.S. watchdogs, China Labor Watch and Green America, penned the 25-page report on the situation at a factory that supplied the aluminum bodies for some Apple devices, according to PC World. Catcher, the company in question, is based in Taiwan and has been violating China's labor laws.
"The investigator discovered extensive violations of Chinese labor laws, as well as violations of Catcher's policies and Apple's Supplier Code of Conduct, which details standards for worker rights and environmental sustainability for any company supplying to Apple," the report states.
The New York Times reports that the Catcher factory in question is located in the city of Siquan. Among the factory's shortcomings, the report finds that workers were made to sign statements confirming safety training that never happened. Also, the investigator found that emergency exits were locked and aluminum shavings permeated the air and were littered about the workshop floor.
In a flagrant violation of Chinese labor law, workers were forced to work as many as 100 hours of overtime and did not receive social insurance payments. Apple has over 200 major suppliers around the world, making 97 percent of the California-based company's components.
The report released by China Labor Watch and Green America also discovered that the Siquan factory released industrial waste into the local sewer system.
"After processing, used cutting fluid is put directly into the sewer. Water and oil that were used to clean crushed pieces on the product covers are also poured together into the drain. There is a river located between Catcher's plant C and B plants. Rainwater pushes industrial wastewater and aluminum-magnesium alloy shreds into the river," explains the report.
Workers also handle highly corrosive materials and liquids without appropriate protection and the company does not inform them of the dangers posed by the chemicals.
According to NBC News, Apple has released a statement commenting on the report.
"Excessive overtime is not in anyone's best interest, and we work closely with our suppliers to prevent it," Apple said in the statement released Thursday.
"Our most recent annual audit, in May, found some concrete areas for improvement in Catcher's operations, and we worked with Catcher to develop a corrective action plan," Apple said. "We had scheduled a follow-up visit next month to review their progress but have dispatched a team there immediately to investigate this report."
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