Informative Presentation
Foxconn is a Taiwanese electronics contract manufacturing organization, known to be the largest contract manufacturer of electronics in the world. For several years, Foxconn was accused of labor rights violation from several employees and social groups. They are known to keep employees in dormitories that are overcrowded and protected by military style security forces. Labor is expected to work for long hours without any compensation for the overtime, which Foxconn claims are a voluntary exercise. Management controls all aspects of their workers’ personal lives and many times interfere with their private life.
Foxconn is the largest private employer in the Chinese market and their superior position helps them to overpower authorities and local communities. Several workers have been exposed to harmful materials without prior information and the surrounding areas have also been subject to air and water pollution. These types of poor working condition problems are common among the Foxconn factories globally. Lately, the issues related to Foxconn’s poor working conditions have received significant attention from human rights organizations and international media as increased number of worker suicides and continuous riots in the Chinese Foxconn factories (Guglielmo N.pag). With mounting allegations against Foxconn, the largest clients of Foxconn such as Apple have asked for actions to audit the working conditions at Foxconn factories and identify if any of the allegations are true.
The Audience
The audience comprises of Terry Gou is the Founder, Chairman, CEO and President of Foxconn Technology Group. Terry Gou is neutral on the issue and claims that it is important to audit the conditions to satisfy the clients. The negative press from the poor working conditions has not stopped the company to expand into China and other regions, as clients are asking the company to build Foxconn factories in new markets (Kan N.Pag). Other members include Apple advocate and CEO Tim Cook and other representatives from Apple’s quality team who want to monitor the working conditions of Foxconn factories (Bilton N.pag). Due to the allegations and interests shown by Foxconn management, there is a conflict between the Foxconn management and the head of manufacturing responsible for all factories and production.
The Consultant
The Solution
The current evidence suggests that there are significantly poor working conditions in Foxconn factories that have been avoided by the management. The proposed solution for Foxconn is to take steps that reduce the work load and poor working conditions of employees. In addition, it is necessary that workers should get a raise on their daily wages, which is industrially competitive and values the efforts of Foxconn workers. Foxconn also needs to develop an environment where workers feel safe and protected, rather than mistreated and threatened. They need to build better working conditions and ensure workers are counseled and helped if they feel like taking their life. Foxconn also need to reduce their military style security and provide employees with hospitable living conditions in dormitories.
Works Cited
Bilton., R. Apple 'failing to protect Chinese factory workers'. BBC. bbc.com. 18 December 2014. Web. 16 January 2016.
Guglielmo., C. Apple's Supplier Labor Practices In China Scrutinized After Foxconn, Pegatron Reviews. Forbes. forbes.com. 12 December 2013. Web. 16 January 2016.
Kan., M. Foxconn CEO blames past worker suicides on breakups, family disputes. PC World. Pcworld.com. 25 June 2014. Web. 16 January 2016.
