Foxconn working conditions

I'd like to take a moment to post something regarding the working conditions at Foxconn.  I'm not going to argue that sitting on an assembly line fabricating Xbox controllers is the most amazing job in the world.  I believe reports of the job being mindlessly redundant are quite accurate.  I do however have a few issues with the way in which Foxconn working condition stories are repeatedly spun.

First and foremost, these stories are all pitched in such a way so as to unevenly attack Apple.  With the Cupertino giant's rise to power it's become fashionable for the media to depict Apple as an evil empire.  The reality is that any story condemning the use of Foxconn should be presented as a case of the civilized world's need for highly sophisticated yet low cost electronics.  Apple is hardly the only company using Foxconn for product assembly.  Foxconn produces products for Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, Vizio, HP, Sony, Nintendo, and virtually anyone else in the industry.  These products are purchased in volume by consumers the world over - including their fastest growing market, China.

Next, it's important to keep some perspective when demonizing working conditions in another part of the world.  As I said earlier, in the United States there are certainly finer jobs than working a Foxconn assembly line.  However, the world over this plethora of jobs isn't always the case.  It's indisputable that Foxconn's jobs are sought by a great many people.  Reuters and other's have shown how many Chinese feel about positions at the plant as thousands line up to apply for open positions.

Further, issues that do arise in China are often seemingly blown out of proportion.  In 2011 Foxconn had 17 suicides.  Of course it's tragic when someone takes their own life - that this has happened 17 times at Foxconn is terrible.  Now the bigger picture, Foxconn has over 1 million employees.  In China, and even the United States the Foxconn suicide number is much lower than the average per 1 million people.  Countries around the world would look at 17 suicides per million citizens as a huge  improvement over their current figures.

Working conditions at Foxconn are clearly not something to be celebrated.  Working long hours can be extremely tiring on the individual and family.  At the same time, it's been largely reported that workers at Foxconn are upset, not happy, about the cuts in hours they've experienced due to so much international attention.  Living conditions in China are lower on average than they are in many other parts of the world.  People who otherwise would have nothing can afford to feed their families thanks to their employment.

Likely one day in the not too distant future these jobs will all be replaced by machines.  At that point, as a million are without work and probably 10 times that number effected - we can all bask in the glory of a Foxconn without assembly workers.  In the meantime, let's look at this company with a little wider lens.