Recently, Apple was the focus of a British newspaper's investigation into the conditions of the Chinese factory where iPods are made. The story alleged that workers were paid very little and forced to work 15-hour shifts to assemble Apple's wildly popular MP3 players.

In response to the allegations, Apple dispatched an "audit team" to the manufacturing site and then issued an extensive follow-up report. The report noted that, although there were a few violations as well as areas of improvement needed, the company wasn't the sweatshop overlord it had been made out to be.

The issue has thrown new light on working conditions in the technology sector. As in the apparel industry, many electronics and computer components are manufactured outside of the U.S., often in countries where labor unions are practically non-existent and working conditions may be far from ideal.

And, so we wonder: is it ethical to own an iPod, given that it might be made by people working ungodly amounts of overtime, in an environment that may or may not have labor laws enforced? The answer is awfully tricky, say many labor experts.

Not Alone

"The fact is that any operation that subcontracts in East Asia is going to be running into these labor practices," says Robert J.S. Ross, professor of sociology at Clark University and author of "Slaves to Fashion: Poverty and Abuse in the New Sweatshops."

In other words, if non-U.S. labor standards make it unethical to own an iPod, you might as well also ditch your computer, game console, cell phone, and while you're at it, half the clothes in your closet.

"The manufacturer that produces iPods is larger in revenue than Apple itself," says Ross. "That should tell you something about where high-tech goods are being made. Not everyone shares China's standards, but that's where manufacturing is increasingly centered."

Bite Out of Apple

In the 1990s, accusations of sweatshop conditions at apparel manufacturers led to talkshow host Kathy Lee Gifford, who had her own clothing line, sobbing on TV. Although it's likely that Apple CEO Steve Jobs won't follow suit, the company has been scrambling to prove its innocence and issue a "mea culpa" where applicable.

A lengthy report on Apple's site notes that the audit team was comprised of members of the company's human resources department, as well as legal and operations groups. The team interviewed randomly selected employees, reviewed personnel files and payroll data , and inspected over one million square feet of facilities. (continued...)

1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  Next Page >