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A report in the middlebrow Mail on Sunday entitled "iPod City" features photos and first-hand accounts from inside factories operated by Foxconn, a company contracted by Apple to assemble millions of iPods by hand.

According to the report (paraphrased here by Macworld UK), Foxconn's giant Longhua plant employs 200,000 workers, who work 15-hour days but are paid just $50 a month -- miserable even by China's standards. It claims they work and live in the plant, in dormitories housing 100 people, and outside visitors are forbidden.

The report says another plant that makes Apple's iPod shuffle in Suzhou, Shanghai, employs mostly women, because they are more trustworthy. Another factory is secured by Chinese police officers, the paper said.

Workers at these factories earn more -- about $100 a month -- but are not housed by the company. The paper says rent and living costs eat up about half the worker's salaries.

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http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,71138-0.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2

quote:

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Workers at these factories earn more -- about $100 a month -- but are not housed by the company. The paper says rent and living costs eat up about half the worker's salaries

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It would be interesting to know Just how much of the profit margin between production and retail is gobbled up by Apple as opposed to the Chinese state and factory owners.

It would be even more interesting to know how many non-Chinese owners there are of these sweat shops.

[ 13 June 2006: Message edited by: Fidel ]

Not to say that the wage is bad or good. Given the history and context, it is probably bad. But a number is meaningless without a local cost of living to compare it to.

Is $50/month a king's ransom in that province? Is it a pittance? How does it compare to other salaries? What does it cost to rent a modest apartment? To feed a family? Pay for schooling etc?

I'm reasonably sure it doesn't cost the same as it does here in Vancouver (though we give people on assistance a whopping $185/month after shelter).