iPods:Designed in California, Slave-Produced in China

Apple is taking steps for damage control after newspapers carried reports of poor working conditions of Apple employees in several iPod factories in China. The Daily Mail article on the iPod ‘sweat shop' made waves all over the world, prompting the software giant to investigate the allegations in the Hon Hai-owned plant.

The Chinese workers on the production line, mostly women, get paid anything from C$56 to C$110 per month, excluding their room and board which accounts for half the amount. In some cases, workers are housed in company dormitories, usually within the same compound as the factory with tight security and many restrictions.

PR officials at Apple have been working overtime to ensure that the issue is not blown out of proportion. An official statement issued to the press says, "Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible.” However, the fact remains that global giants hire contract manufacturers to handle production for them, who in turn are pressurized to boost profit margins for the bigwigs. Ultimately, the workers on the production line suffer the most, as low wages and longer working hours means cost cutting for the companies.