About the recent suicides in Foxconn

Having been reading a lot of news about the frequent suicides in FOXCONN, a Taiwanese Iphone/Ipad manufacturer. A total of 11 "jumps," 9 death, 2 injuries, this factory seems to be haunted.

So many theories and analyses exist about these death, some people called Foxconn a “Blood and Tear” factory; some say that Foxconn just has an extremely regulated management system - a semi-military system; some concluded that this is the unfortunate outcome of being at the end of the production chain; some blame it on the brittle nerve of the new generation of countryside workers, whose parents where the first generation workers; some say it is the unfairness in the society that brings no hope to the "poor second-generation;" some even say that the high death compensation (approximately 30K to 50K) to the family served as an incentive. There are more analyses, but the truth is still behind the scene. Maybe it is an outcome of all the above.

I am just feeling sad, not seeing the truth with my own eyes made me no better than another speculator, here I just want to provide a list of Facts

- the first known death of a Foxconn staff is Yonggang Sun, who was subject to internal investigation on lossing an Apple 4G sample phone, jumped out of a 12th floor window to prove his innocense, in September, 2009.

- Since 2010, in a short period of last 5 months, there were 11 suicides in Foxconn causing 9 death and 2 injuries. The youngest is only 19-year old, the oldest is 25-year old.

- For one iphone, Apple pays approximately 5 dollar to the manufacturer in China, For one ipad, Apple pays 11 dollars to the manufacturer in China

- Foxconn is a Taiwan company hires over 900-thousand employees. The owner Taiming Guo is currently the Richest man in Taiwan

- In Foxconn, a manufactory worker receives an average of $150 dollars per month, free lodging in a 8-person room, free food in the dining hall, and free laundry –better than the average conditions in many manufactories in China

- Foxconn worker works an average of 10~12 hours a day (8am ~5pm regular time, 6pm~8pm overtime), and also working over the weekend as overtime. The average pay for overtime is $1.1 per hour. You may choose to not work overtime, but few employee do, and they faces pressure from their supervisors.

- The investigation of the local labour department has concluded no-wrong-doing in Foxconn's conduct after the "10th jump"