Chinese iPad Factory Staff Forced To Sign 'No Suicide' Pledge

An anonymous reader writes "Employees at Foxconn facilities in China, used to manufacture the iPhone and iPad, were forced to sign a pledge not to commit suicide after over a dozen staff killed themselves over the last 16 months. The revelation is the latest in a series of findings about the treatment of workers at Foxconn plants, where staff often work six 12-hour shifts a week, 98 hours of overtime in a month, and live in dormitories that look and feel like prison blocks."

I'm sure that will work

[Anonymous Coward]

I bet that will work as well as that pledge to not use sarcasm I signed.

Re:forced

[TaoPhoenix]

"Sign this Pledge not to commit suicide."
"No."
"I said, sign it! Or Else!"
"Or else what? You going to kill me for not signing a pledge that says I won't do it myself?"

Re:Pffft

[camperslo]

If they were forced to sign it, then it was signed under duress and it's not enforceable. :)

Since you've found the loophole, the anti-suicide provisions don't apply to you. We're pleased to inform you that you've been transferred to the energy services division which will be happy to schedule your suicide. We think you have a bright future in biofuel.

Re:Pffft

[myth24601]

They could be paid $500/week, but that still wouldn't make up for the fact that they're forced to work 70 hour work weeks.

It isn't right to treat factory workers like they work in IT just because they are building high-tech equipment.