Apple’s iPhone touchscreen supplier, Chinese firm Wintek Corp has been hit by strikes and violence at its main factory. The dispute could effect the supply of parts for Apple’s smartphone.
China Daily reportsthat Wintek’s factory workers damaged equipment and vehicles in response to deaths, allegedly due to exposure to toxic chemicals. Employees were angry at the result of a local government investigation into the case.
Wintek workers gathered on Friday and caused damage at the factory as well as putting up road blocks and throwing rocks at police, reports claimed. Some reports claimed that the employees were protesting over the cancellation of their 2009 bonus but a worker told China Daily it was not solely about money.
He told the paper: ”We feel angry about the company authorities’ apathy to workers’ health.” He claimed employees are overworked and underpaid. Employees claim deaths among the workforce were due to overexposure to hexane, a chemical used to clean touchscreen panels.
Apple regularly audits Chinese suppliers including Foxconn, which hit the headlines when an employee allegedly committed suicide following the loss of an iPhone prototype. A report on iPod manufacturing released by Apple in 2006 found no instances of forced overtime but did reveal that some employees worked longer than the 60-hour weekly maximum.
Apple is rumoured to be ready to announce the iPhone 4 at its event on January 27 and with the Apple Tablet likely to require a large supply of touchscreens, disruption at its suppliers could be costly.
Due TBA | £TBA | Apple (via Apple Insider)
