Working conditions

MakeITfair is a European corporate responsibility lobbying group for better working conditions in the electronics and IT industry. Germanwatch coordinates their initiatives in Germany. Together with Good Electronics, another lobbying group, they have launched the campaign "It's time to bite into a fair Apple." Cornelia Heydenreich is the coordinator at Germanwatch.

Deutsche Welle: Why have you focused on Apple in this latest campaign?

Cornelia Heydenreich: The discrepancy between their products and the situation on the ground is why we picked Apple. We want to see changes, we want Apple to be a frontrunner not only in innovative products, but also in working conditions. So far, we're not seeing that, and that's why we're raising this issue again with Apple. We want to use the launch of the new product to also call on Apple to improve the working conditions of their suppliers.

There's been a lot of talk recently about just how worthy Apple is. It's more worthy than General Motors or ExxonMobil, in fact some consider it the most worthy product-making company in the world. How much would it really cost Apple to treat their workers better?

We think it wouldn't use up all their profit to improve the situation at their suppliers. The [market research] company iSuppli said last year that only one percent of the sale price of an iPhone is spent on the wages of workers in the supply chain. So, if they raised their wages a little bit, profits would only be a bit smaller, but not eat it all up.

Many IT and computer electronics companies, be it Apple, Nokia or Samsung, have manufacturing plants in China. In some cases, devices for competing products are made in the same facilities. What makes Apple stand out when it comes to working conditions?

We have the impression that Apple is especially reluctant when it comes to reacting to specific problems and cases, being transparent and getting into dialogue with affected people and NGOs working on these issues. Also, Apple has the most money available to really implement changes and start something different.

It's true that in many factories, workers produce products for different brands, but a recent report from one of our partner organizations in Hong Kong was about a factory mainly producing for Apple. There, Apple would really have an influence to change the situation on the ground.

Interview: Matt Herrman / ng
Editor: Nancy Isenson