Why Can't The iPhone 5 Be Made In The USA Anyway?

My thought goes out to them too. This exploitation goes on all around the world of course, not just in China..but it's the fact they're making high end gadgets they probably couldn't afford themselves, is the bit that upsets me..and the fact they're searched and treated like slaves, in effect.

The boss disregards "labor law" and treats workers inhumanly.It reminds me of Marx's words - Capital is nothing but one that sheds blood and dirty things from head to foot.

I'd love to see your book collection my friend. You read interesting books, that's for sure.

Actually a lot of imported items have come down here in recent years due to the strength of the Aussie dollar. Particularly those items which are made in the USA or by American companies who manufacture in Asia, but use American currency. the main kitchen equipment that we import is made in either Korea or China. The produce much better quality these days than used to from those countries. Most appliances used to be Japanese made, I remember that, but more and more are being made in Malaysia or Thailand now as well as China. Even Japanese car manufacturers are having cars made in Thailand now! Speaking of cars, we make very few of our own cars here now, most are made in Asia, whereas not so long ago, the Japanese manufacturers had plants here so that their cars could be locally made. Now even the Aussie car manufacturers have little made here!

That's a shame. We did have a car industry making British cars but they were always going on strike in the 70s and that proved the downfall of the likes of Rover, although that plant - I think - makes the BMW MINI. I have mixed feelings about it and if you ever see a Mini you will notice that the BMW badge is nowhere to be seen. There would be uproar by Mini enthusiasts (such as myself) if that badge was stuck anywhere on that bonnet! Sunderland (not a million miles from here) has a Nissan plant that produces the Qaushquai. I've probably spelt it wrong but I can't be bothered looking it up. Anyway, the plant itself is highly productive which shows what workers can do over here once investment has been secured.

I do think that imported goods are way more expensive than they used to be though and I'm sure you realise that yourself, with the type of business you're in. There has to be a backlash at some point but the problem here is..many youngsters in particular have actually grown up with practically everything they buy being made elsewhere. Anyone the wrong side of 40 will remember when things USED to be made in our country. It's the young people that aren't really bothered where their latest gadget comes from. When I was growing up many electronic items like hi-fis were made in Japan. I can't remember the last time I saw anything made in that country. It's China now.

Interesting. What I found more interesting was the squabble amongst the people that commented underneath the police. The inference seems to be that because Foxconn make goods for other companies that Apple ought not to be singled out for complaint. There is only one reason why companies use these factories - the chap cost of production. They are not interested in providing jobs to China or anywhere else. So I am amused to read that some think that their is some noble intent in investing there. The alterior motive is profit not improving the lt of a largely peasant economy.

Autocorrect strikes again! It = lot and their = there....

It's a terrible state of affairs isn't it? And they're not the only ones either, unfortunately.

Big multi-national corporation executives pretty much care about just one thing in their life, the super big bonus and super high salary they are going to receive from the board of director of his corporation at the end of the reporting period, the rest of the human rights affair are just not vital to their personal interests and deep pocket, that include Apple's management. Using exploited Chinese labor in their China's based facility is not something that will hurt their corporation bottom line, on the contrary, it pushes Apple's annual profitability toward higher end. $$$ is their God.

It's wrong though..very wrong.

I would not be happy if I had to work that length of time without a break. You would think that if they DID have breaks then morale would improve and they wouldn't have to be bullied into increased production.

It's all about profits alright. Also, the said gadgets are a rip-off. I believe the new iPhone 5 has its critics because the old connectors (that were made for the last 9 years for previous models) are now obsolete i.e. don't fit..so you have to buy new ones. It's ridiculous how they reel people in..and Apple aren't necessarily the best..just different. Watch them decline now that Steve Jobs is no longer with us.

What saddens me is that American representatives are just leaving them to it..you know, not checking up on working conditions, like they don't care or something.

Bullying may be though..or it SHOULD be.

I know Levi Jeans were criticised a few years ago because China's laws were a bit lax as regards pollution control, so dyes were released into their waterways as a matter of course. I don't know what the situation is now but they're not made in the USA, that's for sure.

I feel sorry for them having to work that way. I know there are sweatshops all over the world (even here in the UK) but they're less open and even harder to weed out. The fact that Apple doesn't seem that bothered about the Chinese workers and the conditions they are working in, astounds me to be honest. A big corporation like that - surely - has the power to change things if they had the will to do so.