The article talks about how the iPhone factory protests in China are challenging the country’s Covid zero rules. Developed in 2017, these rules were designed to ensure that China’s online information was not censored and were designed to keep the country from becoming a surveillance state. When Apple started outsourcing their manufacturing plants, however, many workers found themselves unhappy with the terms of their employment.
Why do iPhones in China cost so much?
There are a few reasons that iPhones in China cost so much. The first reason is that the Chinese government protects domestic manufacturers and makes it difficult for foreign companies to compete. For example, Apple must partner with a Chinese company to produce its products in China, which gives the Chinese company a significant advantage over competitors. In addition, the Chinese government has not been as aggressive about enforcing intellectual property rights as governments in other countries have been. This means that Chinese companies can copy product designs without paying copyright holders, which helps them keep their costs down. Finally, there is a large domestic market for smartphones in China, which allows manufacturers to charge high prices since most people cannot afford to buy an iPhone from outside of China.
Factory Protests: What’s the Goal?
What are the goals of the iPhone factory protests in China?
The goal of the iPhone factory protests in China is to pressure Apple to improve working conditions and wages at its suppliers. The protesters argue that these conditions are not up to international standards, and that workers are paid very low wages. They also want Apple to increase transparency around its manufacturing processes.
How are they protesting?
The iPhone factory protests in China challenge Covid ZeroIn early November, workers at a Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou, Henan Province began a series of sit-ins and work slowdowns to protest the use of forced labor and poor working conditions. The protests quickly spread to other factories across China, resulting in the closure of some production lines and the displacement of thousands of workers. Covid Zero is a software tool that tries to assess the ethical responsibility of companies when it comes to their use of resources and exploitation of labor. The protesters in China are using Covid Zero as part of their campaign against Apple, which has been criticized for its reliance on Foxconn factories.
According to Covid Zero, Apple has a responsibility to reduce its reliance on Foxconn factories by moving some production out of China or by improving the working conditions at its plants in China. However, many experts say that it is too late for Apple to make any real changes and that the company will continue to face criticism over its relationship with Foxconn.
What will the outcome be of the protests?
The protests at the iPhone factory in China challenge Covid Zero. The slogan behind Covid Zero is that there are no global jobs, only global corporations. It's a rallying cry of the Occupy Wall Street movement and others who believe that the world has become too disconnected from the production process.
The protesters at the iPhone factory argue that the company's use of forced labor and child labor is wrong. They also say that by buying iPhones, customers are supporting these practices. Forcing workers to work long hours for low pay is not sustainable, and it's not good for either the workers or the companies themselves.
If these protests succeed in changing how Apple does business, it could lead to a more humane economy where companies are responsible for their own actions and people are able to make a living without exploitation.