Nine suicides at one workplace in less than a year says something is going on. There were eleven attempts all together, with two of the suicide attempts not fatal. The victims have all been between the ages of 19-24. The latest young man just started working at the factory a few months, according to Market Watch
Foxconn is a factory in China that makes parts for many of the electronics you have in your home. Apple, Dell, HP, and the list goes on. The company is speaking out saying this is not a “sweat shop”. They are calling this a “copy cat” situation.
What would prompt nine people to jump off the top of the factory to their deaths, all at different times? Many of these victims recently came into the workforce. Was it the working conditions and the realization that this is what they will probably be doing the rest of their lives and they opted to die before going on like this?
There are no answers to these questions and a criminal investigation by the authorities is underway. The latest suicide victim worked for Foxconn for only 42 days. Just 4 days ago another man jumped off the roof of a factory building. Is this suicide or something else? All the victims have been migrant workers. Complaints have been made of horrific working conditions and abuse at the Foxconn factories.
In 2006 complaints were made of inhumane treatment and abusive treatment at Foxconn. Apple launched its own investigation because of the large volume of business they do with Foxconn. The Apple inspection team said those claims were largely unfounded. According to the NY Times, Apple, Dell, or HP Representatives could not be reached for a comment.
Due to the news of the ninth suicide, the stocks started to fall for Foxconn. They were down 10 percent from the day before.
I cannot help thinking as I am sitting at a computer that is made of parts that come from that company. Are these poor people suffering this much that they end their lives. Is their something else going on? I cannot help feeling somewhat guilty thinking that the workers who made the parts for my computer may have been treated inhumane or abused, as the allegations state. I am sitting in my home office with a cup of coffee and enjoying the quiet. This is such the opposite of what these workers are allegedly going through.
Whether the allegations have been unfounded or not, Nine suicides with eleven attempts in less than a year all on the premises of the same company is saying something loudly. Or should I say it is screaming something very loudly, like something is wrong here!
Reference: Market WatchNY Times
