Amazon is once again under fire, as a China Labor Watch report detailing the cruel conditions of Foxconn factory workers hit the web, pointing out the grueling work days required to assemble and clean devices like the Kindle or the Echo. The story was picked up by major outlets, including the Guardian, and prompted an internal Foxconn investigation.
“Today Alexa has to clean 1,400 Echo Dot speakers with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove any specks of dust. Four-and-a-half hours into the shift, she is already flagging,” highlights The Guardian.
“The investigation revealed that dispatch workers made up more than 40% of the workforce, a clear violation of the legally mandated 10%. Furthermore, the working conditions between dispatch workers and regular workers were markedly different despite working the same positions,” starts off the 94-page China Labor Watch report, which also highlights just exactly how much a Foxconn worker earns for his job, overtime included or not.
Alexa, for example, is paid 14.5 yuan an hour (£1.69), with frequent overtime paid at the same rate, even though both the Chinese labor law and Amazon’s code of conduct dictate that overtime has to be paid at a 150% rate.
“We immediately requested a corrective action plan from Foxconn,” stated Amazon to Reuters. Meanwhile, Foxconn “works hard to comply with all relevant laws and regulations,” according to the same Reuters report.
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