“Apple Computer is getting into a deep PR mess over the antics of one of its its Chinese partners,” Nick Farrell reports for The Inquirer.

“After denying that it was running a sweatshop that would be familiar to Charles Dickens, Apple’s Ipod [sic] manufacturer, Foxconn has finally admitted that it broken Chinese labour laws,” Farrell reports.

“Apparently it was forcing its employees to work about 80 extra hours each month,” Farrell reports. “Chinese workers can be forced to work up to 36 hours extra a month… but Foxconn’s 80 hours is well over this maximum… Foxconn’s PR then made life worse for Apple by saying that a team from the Cupertino based outfit had investigated its operations and given it the thumbs up.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Jim" for the heads up.]
We will reiterate our original “Take” on this matter: Regardless of the story’s validity (we need to know more from more sources first), Apple should make sure that the people who are assembling Apple products in China and all other countries are treated better than the accepted base standards. It’s good business, it’s the right thing to do, and it’s what we expect of Apple.

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Related articles:
Apple begins ‘thorough audit’ of Foxconn iPod factory – June 20, 2006
Apple iPod manufacturer Foxconn sternly denies iPod sweatshop claims – June 19, 2006
Apple iPod ‘sweatshop’ story a ‘poorly researched sensationalist article’ – June 19, 2006
Apple rebuts Chinese iPod factory claims – June 13, 2006
iPods made in Chinese sweatshops? – June 13, 2006