Apple Computer said on Friday that its main supplier of iPod musicplayers let employees in a China plant work longer hours than allowedby Apple's code of conduct, and that it had taken steps to address theissue.
Apple had launched an investigation after international media reports on work practices at the supplier Foxconn, a unit of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry.
In a statement, Apple said its code been violated in some cases, but insisted the overtime was voluntary. "We found no instance of forced overtime," Apple said. "We, however,found that employees worked longer hours than permitted by our code ofconduct."
Hon Hai spokesman Edmund Ding told Reuters in Taipei that the Applestatement gave "a very detailed explanation of the situation" and was"fair." He added that the company "has not violated any laborstandards."
News source: CNET News.com