A few days ago, the UK newspaper The Mail reported that Apple's iPods were being manufactured in "iPod City" -  a Chinese factory that allegedly treat its employees poorly and unfairly (known as "sweatshops"). Sweatshop controversies are not new. Other famous companies have been involved in similar sticky PR situation including New Balance, Nike, Walmart, Gap Old Navy,  Banana Republic and Kathie Lee Gifford's line of clothes.

Apple came out with a statement reiterating the company's commitment to "ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible." The company also said it would look into the allegations regarding the poor working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China.

While results of the company's investigation is still underway, Gary Bowerman, editor of Shanghai Business Review, defended Apple. Bowmwan said iPod factory workers "do work long hours, they donÂ?t get paid very much, but the factories are state-of-the-art. They really are impressive." Adding that although "itÂ?s monotonous and routine, but the quality of the factories is even better than in Europe. TheyÂ?re clean, hi-tech, even air-conditioned - not sweatshop stuff. TheyÂ?re purpose-built for high-volume production and have to turn out high quantity and high quality.Â?

Unfortunately, Bowerman's statement does not satisfactorily explain the images posted by The Mail on Sunday. The one on the left, according to the UK newspaper shows the crowded domitories where iPod factory workers stay. The one on the right shows factory workers allegedly performing military-style drills before starting their day.

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.