Not interesting in bashing…only in influencing a few consciences and perhaps buying patterns, because nothing changes minds like smaller profits.
You no doubt remember the anti-suicide netting and Foxconn from 2010. Apple issued strict standards and inspections, and that fixed that, right?
Wrong. BBC Panorama has revealed:
“An undercover investigation by BBC Panorama reveals that workers in Chinese factories which make Apple products have been discovered to being treated poorly; filming on an iPhone 6 production line revealed Apple's promises to protect workers were routinely broken.”- Neowin
Apple refused to be interviewed for the program and issued a non-response:
"We are aware of no other company doing as much as Apple to ensure fair and safe working conditions."
"We work with suppliers to address shortfalls, and we see continuous and significant improvement, but we know our work is never done." – Apple
“Our work is never done.” Indeed.
Pegatron (the factory involved) has responded: "Worker safety and well-being are our top priorities. We set very high standards, conduct rigorous training for managers and workers, and have external auditors regularly visiting our facilities to find areas for improvement," a statement said in the BBC source.
The BBC did a real job (for a change). They went all the way down the supply and production line to the tin mining in Indonesia. It found children digging tin ore out by hand in extremely dangerous conditions. The miners can be buried alive when the walls of sand or mud collapse. A father and his twelve year old son were also interviewed.
“Johan Murod, who runs one of the smelters on Apple's list, said 70% of the tin that is exported comes from the small-scale mines. "At the smelter there's everything from both large and small scale mines. It's all mixed. There's no way to know what is legal and what is illegal." – BBC
I recommend reading the Neowin/BBC sources and viewing the video.
Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30532463
http://www.neowin.net/news/apple-is-failing-to-protect-chinese-factory-workers-says-the-bbc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVaTl2kW6YU#t=100