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Article

11 Dec 2013

Author:
David Barboza, New York Times

Worker Deaths Raise Questions at an Apple Contractor in China

Last September...Shi Zhaokun began working long hours at a [Pegatron]...plant that produces Apple’s new iPhone 5C. But on Oct. 9, Mr. Shi checked into a hospital, his family says...[and then died] of pneumonia. Although his identification papers said he was 20, Mr. Shi was in fact just 15. In China, he was too young to legally work on a factory floor... Pegatron...said the workplace...was not the cause... Labor rights activists say Pegatron has failed to explain at least five deaths. They say workers interviewed by China Labor Watch...have complained about long working hours and harsh working conditions... Apple...[said it] was saddened by the deaths and had sent independent medical experts...to investigate... “...Apple has a long-standing commitment to providing a safe and healthy workplace...in our supply chain, and we have a team working with Pegatron...to ensure that conditions meet our high standards," the company said... [Pegatron] said [Shi's] hours did not exceed the legal limit. In late July, China Labor Watch...[claimed] Pegatron was violating Chinese laws and Apple’s...code of conduct... Executives at Pegatron...said they were taking the accusations seriously. [also refers to Foxconn (part of Hon Hai)]