Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at War With BBC

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By Chris Hillman on December 20, 2014 Intl News

According to latest news, Tim Cook has shown deep offence to allegation made in BBC program that stated that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) mistreats its Chinese workers, who work in sites where Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPads and iPhones are manufactured. BBC sent their undercover reporter to the outskirts of Pegatron factories, in Shanghai, where they found that workers have poor treatment, and standard working hours laws are breached by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).

In an email to around 5000 staffs in UK, Jeff Willams; vice president of operations for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) said that they were deeply offended by claims that the company has, in any way broken any laws that concerned employees who work in the company setups in China. He also claimed that the BBC program, Panorama’s depiction of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s policies in the Chinese factories is far from truth.

He claims that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shared “perspective and facts” regarding human rights in advance with the BBC management, but their program clearly failed to show that in their program.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has around 1,400 workers for manufacture operations in China and they are independent enough to voice their opinions on issues, such as any security risks or mistreatment at the hands of management teams. Williams also stated that the Chinese managerial team includes very responsible and considerate individuals.

Defending the company principles with regards to workers abroad, Williams stated that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a company that ensures safe and fair working conditions, and ascertains investigation of matters that need attention. The company also endeavors to follow transparent courses of action with regards to supplier functions.

Claims were also made by Panorama regarding use of child labor in these Chinese factories. It also claimed that illegal mines are used for tin excavation by Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) supply chain from Indonesian island of Bangka.

Williams countered saying, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) did confirm that tin for manufacture of its products is attained from Indonesian mines.

The program also revealed that artisanal miners in tens of thousands sell tin to smelters through middlemen, who supply it to component supplier, who in turn sell it to the world. This issue is not addressed by government and the widespread corruption in supply continues unnoticed.

With regards to this, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has two choices, first, it must make sure that all supplier buy tin outside of Indonesia. Second path is staying engaged and trying to drive collective solutions.

It has also been revealed that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) made an Indonesian Tin Working Group with many technology companies to make a system to held smelters accountable.

As an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) employee since 1998, Williams assured staff that all aspects of these allegations are being investigated. He also said that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will investigate claims by BBC and they will take necessary actions. The company also assured that several steps are being taken to ascertain that overtime is prevented and no other company is doing that much for safe working and fair conditions of its employees in global factories.