Amid outcry, Apple says it monitors work conditions in China

Apple restated its pledge to provide safe working conditions for workers assembling of its products after environmental groups in China released a report criticizing the tech company for failing to be transparent about its suppliers.

“Apple is committed to ensuring the highest standards of social responsibility throughout our supply base,” said Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu in a statement. The company requires all suppliers to sign up to Apple’s code of conduct before the contracts are made. Compliance is then monitored through factory audits and measures to correct violations.

However, Apple would not directly comment on the report, which had the backing of 36 environmental groups from China. Titled “The Other Side of Apple,” the report faulted the tech giant for failing to respond to inquiries related to the working and environmental conditions at its suppliers, while also refusing to disclose who the company’s suppliers are. The 26-page document pointed to suppliers reportedly connected to Apple that had violated environmental regulations or poisoned workers due to working conditions.

Apple came dead last in the list of 28 companies reviewed from the Institute of Environmental and Public Affairs, which included Hewlett Packard and Sony (companies at the top of the list). Apple’s products are lauded to be environmentally friendly, though the Chinese have something different to say about that.