Cook visits Foxconn's iPhone factory

Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook visited Foxconn Technology Group's newly built manufacturing facility for the iPhone in Zhengzhou, China, as the US company seeks to improve working conditions. The iPhone production line is at the new Foxconn Zhengzhou Technology Park, which employs 120,000 people, Carolyn Wu, a Beijing-based Apple spokeswoman, said in an email yesterday. She didn't provide other details on Cook's visit or say how much longer he'll be in China after having held high-level talks in Beijing this week. Apple, which contracts Foxconn to make its iPhones and iPads, became the first technology company to join the Fair Labour Association in January, opening up suppliers' factories to inspections by the Washington-based group after complaints by human rights organisations. The group found "tonnes of issues," while also seeing "dramatic" improvements, FLA chief executive officer Auret van Heerden said last month. "Apple has had a string of negative publicity this year with Foxconn factory issues," said Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting Ltd, a Beijing-based market research firm. "Apple is trying to demonstrate how seriously they take these issues, and how strong their commitment is to China." Cupertino, California-based Apple has been criticised by organisations including China Labour Watch for conditions at its suppliers, and the company has found infractions including excessive overtime and environmental violations. It didn't specify which companies breached its supplier code of conduct. Foxconn, founded by Chairman Terry Gou in 1974, raised the base pay for junior workers by as much as 25 per cent last month and said its wages exceed government mandates. Cook's trip to Zhengzhou followed a meeting with Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong on March 26 and with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on March 27. Apple's Wu said earlier those meetings were "great," without providing details. Following allegations by an Australian agency that Apple's advertising deceived people into thinking its new iPad could run on all 4G networks, the company has said it will offer refunds to iPad buyers who believe they have been misled. It is the latest in a series of glitches since the iPad went on sale on March 16. According to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corp, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission told a federal court Apple had not heeded warnings from the consumer watchdog. In court, the report said, Apple said it never claimed the device would work on Australia's 4G networks.