Call us crazy, but usually we think of crazy cults and extreme churches who drink some kind of magical koolade when we think of mass suicides. According to unconfirmed reports though, 300 Chinese workers at an Xbox 360 factory threatened mass suicide. Yes, just like everything else these days, the Xbox is actually manufactured in China.
Apparently the Chinese just don’t handle payment and other often union related disputes the way the rest of us do. According to reports, employees threatened to throw themselves off the roof of the factory, recorded in Record China and Want China Times.
Employees officially requested a raise on January 2, and frankly, maybe they deserved a raise. However, employees were told to quit with compensation or keep their jobs and just settle for no raise. Most ended up quitting and did not actually get the promised compensation, which ruffled some serious feathers, even among the Chinese, who generally seem to put up with a lot from their government. Maybe that’s just the breaking point.
Microsoft did not officially confirm or deny any of this, and the official spokesperson refused to confirm whether or not this particular location even manufactured Xboxes at all. They generally do not list products by manufacturing location.
A Microsoft representative has been quoted as saying,
”Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue. We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge. Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy.”
Foxconn Technology Group is currently the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and has built products for Apple, Dell, and HP among others. This is the company that actually produces the iPhone. As far as records go, 17 Foxconn workers have committed suicide in the past 5 years alone. We wouldn’t consider those numbers to be great. Sources say:
”Workers always have excessive and forced overtime in order to gain a higher wage. Workers are exposed to dust from construction site and shop floor without adequate protection. Even worse, they are threatened by potential harm of occupational diseases in various departments. Additionally, military-styled management is still in practice, characterized by ‘military training’ for new workers.”
Is this the kind of company and the kind of standards Microsoft, Apple, and other technology based companies expect?