Allegations made against Foxconn's supposed sweatshops/factories for the Apple iPod have already been responded to by Foxconn. UK-based The Mail reported that workers in Foxconn factories most especially those in the company's Longhua factory were operating in harsh conditions. Employees were working 15 hours a day for a salary of $50 per month and they slept in quarters that housed 100 people each.

Now Apple has decided to take matters more seriously and has begun an audit of Foxconn's China plant. According to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling, this thorough audit will look into the allegations of worker abuse. The employees' working and living conditions will be investigated and interviews with managers and employees alike will be conducted to know if Foxconn really complies with wage and overtime regulations. Other areas necessary to determine Foxconn's compliance to Apple's supplier code of conduct will also be investigated.

Foxconn Electronics, the component manufacturer for Apple's iPod, denied allegations that the company's factories were "sweatshops". The company cited "huge discrepancies between the truth and the claims in the report."

Last week, UK-based The Mail reported that iPods were being made in Chinese factories where the employees worked under harsh conditions. According to the allegations, one factory at Longhua employed 200,000 workers each working 15 hours a day for US$50 monthly. During off-hours, these workers lived in rooms which housed 100 people each.

Foxconn said its workforce is only about 160,000 employees worldwide. The company maintained it abides by the employment law in China. Furthermore, Foxconn issued a statement saying it has continued to make improvements to workers' living conditions, providing safe and well-equipped dormitories complete with free laundry service, sports facilities, libraries, and other facilities.

Foxconn is  the largest manufacturer of PC connectors in Taiwan, and a leading manufacturer of connectors and cable assemblies in the world. In addtition the company also manufactures enclosures, primarily for desktop PCs and PC servers.

A few days ago, UKÂ?s The Mail published a report that iPod factory workers in China were working under "sweatshop conditions." "Sweatshop" is a term used to described  companies involved in using child labor, violationg labor laws, or providing low levels of wages or workplace safety. It also implies a workplace that is physically or mentally abusive, or that crowds, confines, or compels workers, as would be the case with penal labor or slave labor.

The Mail report said the iPod plant in Longhua houses 200,000 workers who work 15 hours a day for $50 per month. The workers were allegedly staying in dormitories that house 100 people each and were not permitted to see visitors. The Mail reported that the iPod nano factory is a five-story factory secured by police officers. While workers at the iPod shuffle factory in Shanghai are housed outside the plant and earned $100 per month, they were required to pay for their housing and food totalling to $50.00.

Apple quickly responded to the report saying the company takes the allegations seriously and that it is looking into the charges.  Â?Apple is committed to ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible. It is "currently investigating the allegations regarding working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China. We do not tolerate any violations of our supplier code of conduct which are posted online.Â? 

Apple did not say what it plans to do if the investigations were true but we'll keep you posted.