[Grall]

The factory, located in Taiyuan, China, which employs nearly 80,000 workers - the equivalent of an entire large-ish Swedish city - manufactures unspecified Apple and other brand products according to the New York Times, and was closed after the riots.

Other sources have suggested the riots started after on-site security staff physically abused some employees, but accurate details seem scarce; as is probably to be expected as both Foxconn and China aren't exactly interested in the truth becoming known. The NY Times claims the confrontation was a result of protests against poor living conditions and low pay. It may well have been any number of factors conspiring together that sparked the riot, which is said to have resulted in smashed windows and other destruction of property at the plant.

Considering Foxconn keeps huge numbers of very low-paid people living in crowded dorms at their factories, much like animal stables, I'm not surprised these things happen, and are increasingly continuing to happen. When you push and push people who have nowhere to go, sooner or later things explode like an overpressurized vessel.

It wasn't long since news of the last riot hit, which also caused significant damage to the plant. ...But, I'm sure Foxconn's CEO Terry Whatsisface, would rather hire on more rentacops than pay his workers even a single penny more in wages.

[Davros]

[Malo]

Looks like a good reason to raise the price of Apple products even more!

[steveOrino]

I really wonder how long the "free ride" will continue to last for until enough workers strike across all manufacturing in China to force labor reform.

[Sxotty]

Pretty funny/ironic/strange that this is a "socialized/communist" country What ever happened to those workers revolutions...

[pcchen]

They probably should rename to something like "19th Century Style Free Rein Capitalism Party"

[Pressure]

Was it ever confirmed it was at an Foxconn plant making Apple gear?

According to Engadget they were producing many things, like "magnesium alloy components for consumer electronics, heat conduction products, LED lighting products, mobile phone products and magnesium alloy automotive components."

[ToTTenTranz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNGaZdkI_Po

- Lightsabers? check.
- Bear guards shooting Foxconn employees with a rifle that turns them into monkeys? check.
- Fat americans eating large apples that drench their mouths in blood? check.
- Ghost of Steve Jobs spanking Foxconn employees with a stick? check.

There's every single ingredient in there to make the best animated short video ever.

[green.pixel]

Shiny electronic gadgets made by poor of the world for the pleasures the west, all the while corporations rake in huge profits and make their workers work for peanuts. Welcome to the 21st century.