Some press have reported that the string of bad PR, such as the Chinese sweatshop iPod City claims, quality control issues, MacBook Pro battery problems and French DRM legislation, has resulted in an anti-Apple backlash from consumers. But a columnist from Wired thinks the Hate Apple movement is more hype than real. "In fact, there's no consumer backlash at all," Kahney says. "Apple's firing on all cylinders and is selling more Macs and iPods than ever."

Sales figures indicating Mac sales up by 20 percent year-over-year and iPods sales surging to a 200 percent increase is Kahney's proof the backlash is a media move by reporters just looking for more to write about it - good or bad. Kahney also says Apple's strategy of using secrecy and invitation-only product announcements doesn't always works for the company. "The downside of this oversized press profile is that bad news also gets overplayed," he says.

A couple of weeks ago, Apple responded to iPod "sweatshop" accusation and reassured the public that the company is committed to ensuring that workers are treated with respect and dignity. It didn't take long for Shanghai Business Review to defend Apple to defend Apple, even saying that quality of factories in China are better than in Europe. Of course, the accused, Foxconn had already spoken. And it continues to speak, but this time, bashing domestic and international media for the irresponsible reporting without independent verification of the actual working conditions in Foxconn's iPod plants.

Edmund Ding, speaking on behalf of Foxconn Electronics (registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry), has submitted a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange strongly criticizing the media for erroneously reporting less than humane conditions in its iPod factories in China. Again, Foxconn has denied allegations of sweatshop conditions in light of reports that the company has admitted to breaking labor laws in China, by asking employees to work 80 extra hours every month and only giving an equivalent of $50 in pay.

In response, Ding stated that Foxconn pays an overtime rate equivalent or better than that required by Chinese laws. He further stated that "Foxconn does not comment about customer information, much less make a public announcement on behalf of a customer."

Despite earlier denials, Foxconn, an original equipment manufacturer for Apple's iPod, reportedly admitted it is breaking labor laws in China, according to China CSR. China CSR is a corporate social responsibility website that mainly focuses on labor situations in the most populous nation on Earth.

Foxconn allegedly 'fessed that their employees work about 80 extra hours each month, a practice which is not legal in China. According to Chinese labor laws, employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 extra hours a month. However, Foxconn says its complicated salary structure has caused misunderstanding among the media, and the company has paid the workers according to the minimum salary standards of the Shenzhen local government. 

The company also claimed Apple has already sent a special investigation team but found no evidence of the allegations of the sweatshop conditions at iPod City. While the China CSR report has surfaced on various sites, it cannot be confirmed if the reports were true.

 

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.