Chinese workers urge Apple to act on n-hexane poisoning

Chinese workers at a factory makes touch screens on contract Apple for has called on the American company to help address their complaints about a chemical poisoning said they could still harm their health.

Wintek, the Taiwanese company that owns the factory in Suzhou industrial park in China Eastern, said it used ethylhexyl metal hydride, also known as n-hexane, from May 2008 to August 2009, but stopped after discovering it was to make workers sick.

"This is a murderer, a murderer, who turns invisible," said a Chinese-language copy of the letter meant for Apple CEO Steve Jobs to workers showed Reuters. An English version had been sent to Apple.

"From when ethylhexyl metal hydride was used, monthly surplus of Apple and Wintek gone by millions each month, the accumulated result of workers ' lives and health," said the letter, signed by five workers claiming to represent employees.

Wintek said it had used chemical, which evaporates faster than alcohol, in order to speed up production of touch screen for Apple products. It has since gone back to the use of alcohol.

Apple, which announced record profits in January, has been dogged by criticism of working conditions on its China-based suppliers.

Last year was his China main supplier Foxconn hit by more than a dozen apparently worker suicide that critics blame on harsh factory vessels conditions.

Poisoning was mentioned in a recent report from Apple, as sources many of its autobiographical iPhones, iPads and other devices for contract manufacturers in China. The report said 137 workers had been hospitalized due to poisoning but had all recovered a conclusion also offered by Wintek.

Apple declined to comment on workers ' letter and referred to its supplier report a reporter back.

But some of the workers on the Winteks extensive factory in Suzhou said Taiwanese factory-owner had not given sufficient compensation to affected workers, had pressured those who train compensation to give up their jobs, and had offered insurance to workers, who likes fresh bouts of illness from poisoning will have medical bills ensured.

"I hope Apple can respect our labor and our dignity. I hope you can stand and excuse us, "said Jia Jingchuan, a 27-year-old production technician to Wintek who said he is sick from ethylhexyl metal hydride, which workers said was used to iPhone cleaning the touch screen.

Wintek spokesman Jay Huang said all staff as needed medical care because of n-hexane poisoning had been dealt with, and that the company has returned to use alcohol to clean the panels, which it manufactures to Apple.

"We are unable to cope with the costs of medical treatment in the future," said Guo Ruiqiang, a worker at Wintek facility, said he suffering fresh symptoms he blame on poisoning. "We can only stay in the factory and see what happens. We just feel very helpless now, "said Guo.

He and other workers said poisoning caused sweaty hands and feet, sudden numbness in hands, increment, and pain in the feet, fatigue andfaintness.

View the original article here

Apple secretive on ' polluting and poisoning ' supply chain, says report

Apple is secretive about its supply chain than almost all of its rivals, says a report from leading Chinese environment groups. Photo: Kimberly white/Reuters

Apple is secretive about its supply chain in China than almost all of its rivals, according to a new report by durability of activists, who accuse the company's products degrading environment and poisoning workers.

Despite its claim to be a leading promoter corporate ethics worldwide, maker iPads and iPhones came joint bottom among 29 large firms in transparency study drawn up by a coalition of China's leading environmental groups.

"Behind their stylish image Apple products have a hand, many do not know – pollution and married. This page is hidden deep within the company's secretive supply chain, "claims a declaration from the 36 groups involved in the Green choice initiative.

Their report — for the fourth to look at the effects of global brands on China's environment – view of the openness, enterprises and their reactivity reports of environmental violations at suppliers.

It follows a series of occupational poisoning, heavy metal contamination incidents and suicides at Chinese factories that provide materials and components for mobile phones and computers.

Many leading brands Outsource production to little-known Chinese enterprises, where labour costs may be lower, weaker and environmental safety standards more lax than in the West.

Foreign companies say they promote global levels of corporate social responsibility. The Apple supplier code of conduct claims to draw on "internationally recognised standards to advance social and environmental responsibility".

But it is difficult for third parties to keep foreign companies to account, because they tend to be secretive about their suppliers, pasting corporate confidentiality. This lack of transparency, combined with official corruption and dire political accountability has made China a haven for polluters.

In recent years has more than 3000 children diagnosed with unsafe levels of lead in their blood in a series of heavy metal contamination outbreaks near melting plants. Many of the facilities, provided the materials used in batteries and casings for foreign IT companies.

None of the 29 companies in examination required for their suppliers to disclose information of the discharges, waste, even though there were great differences in their responses to public inquiries and reported environmental problems. Apple was ranked – in parallel with other major consumer electronics companies – which are at least willing to provide data or to answer questions about suppliers.

The authors say Apple's suppliers have been involved in the violation of environmental regulations. The report noted waste discharge violations in recent years by several Chinese companies, which is believed to be a part of Apple's supply chain.

Labour conditions were also called into question, when at least a dozen workers jumped to their deaths last spring at Foxconn electronics complex in Shenzhen, which makes parts for Apple and other foreign companies.

Critics say, foreign firms are mainly responsible for the pollution because they insist on low prices, which puts pressure on suppliers to reduce costs, and corners. This is disputed by the companies.

Apple's reticence was heavily criticized in May last year, when at least 62 workers fell ill after inhaling n-hexane is used to clean the touch screen on a Wintek electronics factory in Suzhou. Leaders on the allegedly changed the harmful chemical – which can damage nerve in up to two years — apparently because the dried faster than alcohol, Taiwan-owned factory thereby increasing efficiency.

Hospitalised victims, quoted in the new green choice video, said they made products to Apple and has written for the company's chief executive, Steve Jobs, asking for an explanation.

"We will ask you whether or not you should be responsible for the supplier companies you have chosen?" you ask in the letter. "When you look at the Apple Phone do you use in your hand and you a swipe it with your finger, it is possible that you may feel as if it is no longer a beautiful screen to show off, but life and blood of us employees and victims? You supervise audit staff to ensure that they were responsible and diligent? "

Nokia and Motorola answered questions about their involvement with Wintek soon after poisoning was unveiled. Apple has yet to confirm or rule out a relationship. The company said it would not comment on individual claims.

The report's authors say they tried months raising Wintek with Apple, but it refused to comment directly.

"This position means it is impossible to have any official supervision over their entire supply chain. Without, how can we trust them? "Ma Jun said of the Institute for public and environmental affairs. "When environmental violations becomes public knowledge, they should not use commercial confidentiality as an excuse for silence. This is different from other leading brands. "

Hewlett Packard, British Telecom, Samsung, Sony, Siemens and Alcatel was credited as being most responsive to third-party queries about alleged environmental violations.

"Apple can say, it is completely ' green ', because it is a brand with no factory, but if we do not manage its supply chain, these are just empty words," said Ma Jun of the Institute for public and environmental affairs. "Far from the best on the planet, it is at the bottom among 29 the tags. Apple should be a leader. If it can move on this, it can change the entire industry. "

View the original article here