A Foxconn Factory
Foxconn issued a statement Friday that indicated junior level workers would now be paid 1,800 yuan (US$290) per month, and if that worker passed a technical exam they could earn as much as 2,200 yuan, according to a report by Reuters.
This is up from the rate of 900 yuan which was being paid just three years ago. Foxconn stated, “As a top manufacturing company in China, the basic salary of junior workers in all of Foxconn’s China factories is already far higher than the minimum wage set by all local governments.”
Apple has taken some heat regarding the conditions at the factories after a series of suicides two years ago and a New York Times report that claimed poor safety conditions and long working hours existed at the plants. Apple recently took receipt of petitions from groups concerned about conditions at the factories.
Tim Cook has vigorously defended Apple’s responsibility and concern over this issue. The Fair Labor Association, at Apple’s request, had begin an independent inspection this week of the factories and their initial impression was that conditions were better than many other locations in that country.