Tech giant audited own supply chain, made results public
Some suppliers of Apple Inc. in China are failing to meet labour standards, auditors sent by the company have found. An extensive probe of mayor Chinese suppliers conducted last year revealed at least six cases of child labor in factories where components for Apple products are made, according to a report released by the auditors today. Investigators also found that as many as 67 suppliers have used pay-retention as a punishment against workers, and that some facilities are failing to meet environmental standards. The report is sure to cause friction between Apple and its large network of Chinese suppliers. This will add to tensions with customers, who angrily egged the main Apple store in Beijing after it failed to open at seven am, as advertised, to begin sales of the iPhone 4S. Apple staff decided against opening the store upon gauging the magnitude of the crowd that had gathered outside, in order to “ensure the safety of our customers and employees,” a company spokeswoman said.