It seems Xbox and Microsoft are in an extremely tough spot at the moment when word got out that over 300 Xbox Factory workers working in the Foxconn Manufacturing Plant in China threatening to throw themselves from the roof of the building over labour disputes.
For those of you who don’t know Foxconn are major manufacturers for products by Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo and aside from making some of our favourite gadgets and consoles they also have a darker side. Conditions for employees are so bad that these are not the first group of people to threaten to commit suicide and if they do go ahead with their threats then they won’t be first. It is no secret that employees in the plant have jumped to their deaths before and the problem got so bad that the company installed safety nets around the building to prevent staff from doing it off the roof!
This particular group are or were assigned to the Microsoft manufacturing line and it’s important to note that they are employed by Foxconn who are in turn contracted by Microsoft to handle the manfuacturing of their products. They have taken this action after their request for a raise was squashed and were instead told they could keep their jobs and receive no raise or quit and receive some compensation.
Microsoft have conducted their own investigation into the issue and released this statement:
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Microsoft is one of many companies that contracts with Foxconn to manufacture hardware. Upon learning of the labor protest in Wuhan, we immediately conducted an independent investigation of this issue. After talking with workers and management, it is our understanding that the worker protest was related to staffing assignments and transfer policies, not working conditions. Due to regular production adjustments, Foxconn offered the workers the option of being transferred to alternative production lines or resigning and receiving all salary and bonuses due, according to length of service. After the protest, the majority of workers chose to return to work. A smaller portion of those employees elected to resign. Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously. 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. |
Clearly the workers have been pushed to a point of breaking and we’re hoping the matter is resolved without any loss of life – we’ll keep you updated as soon as more of the story breaks!
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
