Apple Launches Probe into Reports of Illegal Student Labour at Apple Watch Plant

Following reports of Apple supplier Quanta Computer illegally employing students to assemble Apple Watches in the Chinese city of Chongqing, the Cupertino tech giant launched an investigation into its supply chain last week, the Financial Times is reporting.

Hong Kong-based human rights group Sacom alleged that after interviewing 28 high school students at the Quanta factory in Chongqing this summer, it found that although teachers were sending them for internships, they were made to perform the same jobs as other assembly line workers, including overtime and night shifts, which according to the Chinese law, is illegal.

“We repeat the same procedure for hundreds and thousands of times every day, like a robot,” Sacom quoted one student.

One student studying automotive repair told Sacom: “We are scheduled to work at night, from 8 pm to 8 am. Only one day off is allowed per week.” Sacom also quoted another student saying that “about 120 students” from their school worked on the fourth floor of plant F5 of the Quanta site in Chongqing.

Eleven students said their teachers told them they would not graduate on time if they did not complete the internships. All 28 students said they worked overtime and night shifts.

Sacom says it had unearthed similar labor abuses at Quanta Chongqing in the production of Apple Watches in an earlier investigation, although Apple had denied that plant being a part of its supply chain at that time.

P.S. - Like our news? Support the site with a coffee/beer. Or shop with our Amazon link. We use affiliate links when possible--thank you for supporting independent media.