iPad maker Foxconn lifts China workers pay again

"The announcement comes after Apple, criticized over working conditions at its sprawling chain of suppliers in China, said this week a U.S. non-profit labor group had begun an "unprecedented" inspection of working conditions at its main contract manufacturers.

Working practices at Foxconn's huge plants in China came under intense scrutiny in 2010 after a series of suicides among young workers. Last June three workers died in an explosion at a Foxconn plant in Chengdu, western China.

Last month the New York Times published an investigation into working practices at Apple supplier's plants in China that documented poor health and safety conditions and long working hours.

In response Apple said the Washington D.C.-based Fair Labor Association would monitor conditions at supplier plants beginning Feb 14.

In an interview with Reuters on Feb 15, the FLA's president said that conditions at Apple supplier plants in China were far better than those at garment factories or other facilities elsewhere in the country."

rest at http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/17/us-foxconn-pay-idUSTRE81G0M920120217?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews