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News
Poor Conditions Reported for iPod Builders
Sunday, June 11th, 2006 at 3:00 PM - by Jeff Gamet
Working conditions for the employees that build iPods may not be up to U.S. standards. The factories in China where Apple's iPod nano and shuffle models are manufactured are staffed primarily by women who work 15-hour days and live in "iPod City" dormitories with 100 other people. A report in London's Mail on Sunday, claims that employees building iPod nanos earn about US$50 a month, and that visitors from outside the factories aren't allowed in. Workers in the iPod shuffle facilities make about $99 a month, but half of that goes back to their food and lodging at the factory.
Product manufacturing costs have driven many companies, including Apple, to China-based manufacturing plants.
The reported working conditions certainly look like a bad mark for Apple, which currently holds the majority of the portable MP3 player market. The company recently touted its pro-environmental stance with its new computer recycling program.
Representatives from Apple were unavailable for comment.
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