Apple Inc. supplier Foxconn Technology Group announced on Thursday that a plant worker had committed suicide on Wednesday. The Chinese worker had jumped from his apartment in the southwestern city of Shengdu. The news followed Foxconn and Apple's agreement to better work conditions in the Chinese factory.
The 23-year-old worker had started working for the company only a month ago and his case is currently being investigated by the police.
In March, both companies agreed that they would improve the work conditions of up to 1.2 million iPhone and iPad assembly workers. This was a large agreement that may be able to shape the way America does business overseas.
In order to make this change, Foxconn decided that it would help lighten current workers' load by increasing its hiring rate. This would also cut down on overtime for workers. Foxconn also agreed to improve safety within plants, as well as improve housing for workers. The company additionally announced earlier this year that employees would get increased wages by 16 to 25 percent.
The agreement between Foxconn and Apple happened following an investigation done on Apple by the independent Fair Labor Association. Apple agreed to the investigation after allegations that the company's products were created in environments similar to sweatshops.
Two years prior, Foxconn experienced several suicides amongst its workers. The plant has seen 18 suicides in total in the past few years.
Foxconn currently has 1.2 million workers in China who assemble products for Apple, Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and other large technology based companies.
