24 replies to this topic

[MOFO]

"Foxconn found itself embroiled in yet another labour controversy this week, after it emerged the company employed school kids, some as young as 14.

Now a Chinese gaming website has learned that the school kids were involved in the manufacture of Nintendo’s new Wii U consoles. The kids, aged 14 to 16, worked overtime and at night to help churn out the consoles, which will be bought for spoiled brats in the west by their guilt ridden parents. And no, it’s not ironic, it’s nothing short of disgusting.

After the reports of underage interns emerged, Foxconn was quick to point out that they were free to leave whenever they liked. However, this does not seem to have been the case. Games QQ claims the kids used in Foxconn’s generous internship program were practically forced to participate. If they refused to do so, they were threatened by their teachers, who told them they might be kicked out of school or lose their graduation diplomas.

One 14-year-old worker told the site that he worked in the night shift, from 7:40PM to the morning.

“Whenever the work is done is when you get off your shift. If you don't finish the work, he (the production line foreman) won't let you end your shift. Usually, you can get off by 7 AM. My arms would hurt from the work," he is reported as saying.

The teen worked several consecutive night shifts and asked for sick leave, which he didn’t get. Eventually he was sacked and allegedly told that he would be kicked out of school. One student claims no days off were given at all.

Nintendo told Kotaku that it is investigating the matter and taking the allegations very seriously."


Link:
http://kotaku.com/59...cture-the-wii-u

[Dragon]

I swear I've heard this before....

[MOFO]

It's news to me and not very good news, now I know it's not NINTENDO's fault but it does leave them not looking good.

[Dragon]

It's news to me and not very good news, now I know it's not NINTENDO's fault but it does leave them not looking good.

I'd suggest scanning the forums before posting stuff. There has been a couple posts on this already. But it seems even though Foxconn makes products for several companies, Nintendo is going to look the worst. :/

[Andy]

Odds are these kids were working on everything from Wii Us to iPads. This problem lies more with Foxconn than with their partners. If you're going to look down on Nintendo for this, you'd better look down on Apple, Sony, Microsoft and kindle as well.

[Dragon]

Odds are these kids were working on everything from Wii Us to iPads. This problem lies more with Foxconn than with their partners. If you're going to look down on Nintendo for this, you'd better look down on Apple, Sony, Microsoft and kindle as well.

Definitely. But being Nintendo, stuff for them is blown out of proportion.

P.S. I love your sig

[Alph]

This is disgusting. I can't believe it. I will think about those poor kids when opening my Wii U. I think that some of the money should go to those poor children.

[MOFO]

I'd suggest scanning the forums before posting stuff. There has been a couple posts on this already. But it seems even though Foxconn makes products for several companies, Nintendo is going to look the worst. :/

Did and didn't see anything even used the search function, thanks for the suggestion

[Etkar]

Great, now I won't be looking at a Wii U console without thinking of those kids...

Edited by Etkar, 21 October 2012 - 02:57 AM.

[Kuta∞sthA]

http://youtu.be/inuLCC--sfY?hd=1

Edited by Kuta∞sthA, 21 October 2012 - 03:23 AM.

[Auzzie Wingman]

What those kids need is a spokesperson for them. One that will say "If you want these kids to do this, they should receive the end product for free."

And then get the support from millions of people.

I shall feel glorious that I was able to get some disadvantaged kids in China a Wii U for Christmas.

[Stephen]

This is disgusting. I can't believe it. I will think about those poor kids when opening my Wii U. I think that some of the money should go to those poor children.

Although I am against this entirely, I think you and other people are taking this out of proportion.
in China, ALOT of school children work under age, and although it is illegal. It is quite normal. They get away with it. these Schoolchildren work for MONEY (And many of there parents actually encourage this because they want them to get experience)
They get paid a fair amount, In fact, From real schoolchildren in China, they said that these children get paid allot and can afford the brand new phones and other stuff. MOST of These children work out of free will and it happens everywhere in China and is accepted accross China as a normal thing.

I would like to stress again that I am definitely AGAINST THIS AND ALL child labour, but I want to point out that the media is blowing things out of proportion too much.

[Tricky Sonic]

Although I am against this entirely, I think you and other people are taking this out of proportion.
in China, ALOT of school children work under age, and although it is illegal. It is quite normal. They get away with it. these Schoolchildren work for MONEY (And many of there parents actually encourage this because they want them to get experience)
They get paid a fair amount, In fact, From real schoolchildren in China, they said that these children get paid allot and can afford the brand new phones and other stuff. MOST of These children work out of free will and it happens everywhere in China and is accepted accross China as a normal thing.

I would like to stress again that I am definitely AGAINST THIS AND ALL child labour, but I want to point out that the media is blowing things out of proportion too much.

I agree 100%

I'm not a heartless jerk...but this has been going on in China for a long time. If you guys guys are upset over them making your Wii U then you might as well just get depressed for the rest of your lives since probably half of what you own comes out of China and a lot of that is from child labor.

[unleashedknight]

This is disgusting. I can't believe it. I will think about those poor kids when opening my Wii U. I think that some of the money should go to those poor children.

Poor Children? lol. Its not slavery and stuff like that, its a program. I kinda like this idea. Showing kids how the work is done.

[dark_rabbid]

Poor Children? lol. Its not slavery and stuff like that, its a program. I kinda like this idea. Showing kids how the work is done.

I agree I've been working in the escavating business since I was five, it was a good way to learn what it meant to earn money.

[Blake]

Foxconn, and even Nintendo, are in some hot water at the moment. As you said it does put both companies into hot water. But, it's not like Chinese companies breaking laws/rules is anything new. Hell, a Chinese company released a iPhone 5 based on the leaked specs, and even patented the product. That's why this action does NOT at all surprise me. It's China.

Still, nothing short of ridiculous.

[MOFO]

It's not so much kids working at 14 it's the fact the console could have been built by kids forced to work nights and overtime, just so they wouldn't get kicked out of school.
Some of you guys seem to be missing that point.

[Mignaga]

How the hell was Nintendo supposed to know this was happening? Nintendo shouldn't be a target of the blame, Foxconn should be the one who takes all the negative press for this.
On top of that, as everyone has pointed out above me, this is China. Nothing new for them.

Edited by Mignaga, 21 October 2012 - 08:23 AM.

[Desert Punk]

The sad thing is Foxconn conditions are much better than many smaller chinese manufacturers, people are actively moving from the smaller companies to Foxconn because of better pay and conditions. Foxconn never have any trouble getting people to work there and the migration of workers away from Foxconn is non existant. Remembering that Foxconn employ a huge number of people, 100s of thousands possibly million plus.

China is a corrupt country and not a democracy. It has questionable ethics and its madness that the world is making such a country soo rich but its likely Foxconn is actually one of the better employers in China overall.

Big business isn't nice. Samsung built the Burj Khalifa and the migrant workers were practically slaves there in Dubai.

Nintendo used to operate love hotels which were basically brothels.

These companies aren't our friends and they can be quite ruthless in the way they pursue profit but if you listen to their marketing departments they are lovely people trying to do their best for the world.

If you want to be on morally high ground you are probably wise not to buy Goods from China but thats where 99% of electronic goods are coming from.

[Mitch]

It makes the WiiU more relatable because now the targeted demographic is not only purchasing the Wii U but it is also building it