Foxconn Backtracks on "Workers Are Animals" Comparison
Foxconn says that CEO Terry Gou was referring to workers as animals, just not in a bad way. Moo.
There's nothing like a cultural difference to make communication between two countries nearly volatile. A reference in one culture could mean an entirely different thing in another. Take for instance the latest stunt by Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, who was speaking during an employee year-end party along with Chin Shih-chien, director of the Taipei Zoo.
As reported by English news-site Want China Times, Gou made an off-the-cuff remark about caring for his employees, but the translation made it sound oh so much more worse given that just weeks ago, 300 employees tried to jump off a Foxconn factory roof in protest against a lack of payment.
"Hon Hai (Foxconn) has a workforce of over one million worldwide, and as human beings are also animals, to manage one million animals gives me a headache," Gou said. He then reportedly added that he admired the way Chin managed his animals, putting lions and tigers together, but not chickens and tigers.
"I should ask you to come run my company," he said to an embarrassed Chin.
The thing is, he meant every word to some degree, just not in the "insensitive" way it was presented to English-speaking readers. Following a media lashing, Foxconn quickly released a statement, clarifying what was actually said.
"There have been some media reports regarding a conversation that Foxconn Technology Group Chief Executive Officer, Terry Gou, had with the Director of the Taipei Zoo, Chin Shih-chien, at an employee event organized by Foxconn on January 15 in Taipei to benefit a range of charitable organizations through a contribution of USD 1.4 million," Foxconn writes in a public statement. "In an effort to encourage his management team to learn from all aspects of life, Mr. Gou did say that, since all humans are members of the animal kingdom, it might be possible to learn from Mr. Chin’s experience as his team looks for lessons that can be applied to business. Mr. Gou’s comments were directed at all humans and not at any specific group.
"While some reports on Mr. Gou’s comments in Mandarin were taken out of context and do not accurately reflect the full scope of that conversation, Mr. Gou does understand how these reports could be misinterpreted and seen as insensitive and he sincerely apologizes to anyone who might be offended by them," the statement continues. "At no time did Mr. Gou seek to portray Foxconn employees in the negative context some media reports have suggested."
The comment arrives just after Apple published its sustainability report for the first time, detailing the working conditions it discovered at Foxconn and other Apple component suppliers. Overall, only 38-percent of the 229 suppliers audited had working hours in compliance with Apple's standards. Some factories were found to be using children and many factories were pushing workers beyond a 60-hour work week. Apple even discovered that the explosions which took place last year at Chinese plants of two of its parts suppliers were caused by excessive aluminum dust.
"We were deeply saddened by events at two of our suppliers in 2011," Apple states. "An explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu factory tragically took the lives of four employees and injured 18 others. An explosion at the Ri-Teng (a subsidiary of Pegatron) factory in Shanghai injured 59."
Given the recent news surrounding Foxconn, the suicides and Apple's report, it's no wonder the media thought he was referring to employees as zoo animals.
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"We were deeply saddened by events at two of our suppliers in 2011," Apple states. "An explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu factory tragically took the lives of four employees and injured 18 others. An explosion at the Ri-Teng (a subsidiary of Pegatron) factory in Shanghai injured 59."
Apple: *trollface*
I'm not sure that having the perspicacity to not put chickens and tigers together is something to admire. If he admires that, I could tell him some stories about not putting goldfish in with piranhas that might get me on the board of directors. Or maybe the time I kept the cat away from the birds. He'd really be impressed with that.
Still not biting. The comments taken in the revised format would indicate that he's asking how best to separate his work force into groups that work better together. If you don't drop the animals aspect, that still sounds like he's trying to find a way to group his stock like a zoo would pen like animals. Separation by race? Gender? Height? Weight? Diet? Political affiliation? These are people and they are doing a job. If they can't manage themselves as far as their own behavior.. you fire them and hire new people that can behave at work.. Oh and you know PAY THEM fairly because they aren't ANIMALS. And perhaps not laugh at them when they attempt to and sadly succeed at killing themselves, or thankfully fail, in protest to work conditions, fallacious policies and low pay. Asshat.
Different cultures indeed.
Who's to say which stocks of people will work better together anyway? He'd have to hire psychologists and counselors not zookeepers. He thinks he has headaches managing them as human resources... maybe they should piss and shit all over the place and destroy equipment like animals.
Gou said, that he admired the way Chin managed his animals, putting lions and tigers together, but not chickens and tigers.
Chin said, that he admired the way Gou managed to reduce work force fatalities by placing nets around his buildings to catch the suicide jumpers.
I suppose if your workers do not work together you could just kill the defective ones...
"We were deeply saddened by events at two of our suppliers in 2011," Apple states. "An explosion at Foxconn’s Chengdu factory tragically took the lives of four employees and injured 18 others. An explosion at the Ri-Teng (a subsidiary of Pegatron) factory in Shanghai injured 59."
... Although we will continue doing business with them, because we are just as narrow-minded as most of our customers. Plus we really just don't give a F.
The suicide rate in the USA is approx 12/100.000 people per year. (Source Wikipedia).
That's 120 people per million or one every 3 days.
Just to put things a bit in perspective; Foxconn has about a million employees. That is the equivalent of a LARGER than San Francisco or Boston.
Cities that have accidents, fires, explosions, suicides, murders etc.
Not to defend some of that 'bad' things that likely go on at a corporation that size, but things DO happen that even the best efforts of the management ( or the major) can not prevent.
The suicide rate in the USA is approx 12/100.000 people per year. (Source Wikipedia).That's 120 people per million or one every 3 days.Just to put things a bit in perspective; Foxconn has about a million employees. That is the equivalent of a LARGER than San Francisco or Boston.Cities that have accidents, fires, explosions, suicides, murders etc.Not to defend some of that 'bad' things that likely go on at a corporation that size, but things DO happen that even the best efforts of the management ( or the major) can not prevent.
What percentage of that 12 per 100,000 happen at work in the US? How many suicides per year does Foxconn have at work?
The suicide rate in the USA is approx 12/100.000 people per year. (Source Wikipedia).That's 120 people per million or one every 3 days.Just to put things a bit in perspective; Foxconn has about a million employees. That is the equivalent of a LARGER than San Francisco or Boston.Cities that have accidents, fires, explosions, suicides, murders etc.Not to defend some of that 'bad' things that likely go on at a corporation that size, but things DO happen that even the best efforts of the management ( or the major) can not prevent.
Troll much? Unless all your 1 million factory workers and I say your because you sound like the factory owner, work in one single factory your statistics are bogus. Foxcon million employees are spread out all over the world but it is funny how only those from these factories feel the need for suicide?
Troll much? Unless all your 1 million factory workers and I say your because you sound like the factory owner, work in one single factory your statistics are bogus. Foxcon million employees are spread out all over the world but it is funny how only those from these factories feel the need for suicide?
While you have a point, please note I used the USA suicide as an example. Yes, some of their workers are outside of Taiwan (which is not 'China' if you ask a Taiwanese).
However, most 'other' countries than the US do have higher suicide rates as well.
Whether or not a suicide happens at home or at work does not always make a difference. It is the reason 'behind' the suicide; and that is not always available after the fact.
I was just making a general statement on suicide rates; not a scientific one.
It is a complex issue but the point I was trying to make was that whenever you take a large group of people (ANY large group); you will find 'unusual' events; both positive and negative.
Raise Asian pay to acceptable levels and all the jobs come back to the US. I'm on board.
it is not culture, if you know apple also slaves its own american workers and suppliers.
Oh please - the reality is that these grunts are exactly that - grunts. They are worked 18 hours a day for pittance and they will continue to do so, until they rise up and demand more. Then will go find another resource to enslave.
it is not culture, if you know apple also slaves its own american workers and suppliers.
You're an idiot. Foxconn doesn't work solely with Apple, so the need for you to attribute this solely to Apple, reinforces my original conclusion that you're an idiot.
People like the CEO of Foxxconn are amoral human beings on the verge of believing their own immortality. He has spent a lifetime dominating other people and cajoling his workforce to produce more and for cheaper. He, in reality is the animal at work here, dressed in an urbane business suit but inside a virulent, slathering madman. He is the tyrant holdfast, eager for power both in this world and, if you probe deeply enough, in some immortal afterlife he has convinced himself he will inherit. He is a hard man, callous but posessed of a cunning survival intelligence. The fewer men and women like this that inhabit the world the more just and free we will become. He is a human, bent and twisted and broken in some fundamental way.
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primate Hominidae Hominini Homo Homo Sapiens
The suicide rate in the USA is approx 12/100.000 people per year. (Source Wikipedia).That's 120 people per million or one every 3 days.Just to put things a bit in perspective; Foxconn has about a million employees. That is the equivalent of a LARGER than San Francisco or Boston.Cities that have accidents, fires, explosions, suicides, murders etc.Not to defend some of that 'bad' things that likely go on at a corporation that size, but things DO happen that even the best efforts of the management ( or the major) can not prevent.
When is the last time in America has 300 people from the same work place all threaten to end their lives at the exact same time? You can try to twist statistics all you wish but face it Foxconn has a problem with suicide. Where else do you see nets being put up around a buildings because jumpers are that common?
The reasons for this is also unacceptable the things that have been revealed and how workers are often treated. The defense of Foxconn needs to stop at this point anyone who even tries such just looks like a ass and why even do it?
@Allmenarecreatedequal
Wow, you must really know this man! Is he your uncle? Did you work for him? Do you know someone who works for him? "People like the CEO of Foxxconn..." is all you need to say so that all know from whence you come. Because he is in charge he must be a bad guy. He's probably rich and therefore evil, right? Isn't that how that works in the limited mind? I'm sure all those workers are like little cherubs, perfectly moral and innocent, writhing under the boot heel of oppression at the hands of this 'madman'...because everyone knows that the 'poor' and the 'common man' are angelic in nature, unspoiled by such dark trappings as vile business suits and weighted down by cash dripping in the blood of virgins...
It must be sheer joy to exist in your world view, so fraught with righteousness and loathing. You can add the 'self' to those words if you like...
21st century America didn't spring from the ass of an offended liberal last week. As in all societies there is growth and transformation. Everything you see going on at Foxconn went on here, only worse. At least they have many other societies to look to as examples so their transformation may go more quickly and smoothly. Would you feel better about these workers if they were starving to death in a rice patty rather than committing suicide in a factory? Foxconn doesn't maraud the countryside enslaving villagers to work in their factories, these people show up and ASK for a job. It might suck to work there but what is their alternative? Starving? They could up their pay to US levels and then watch the politicians and bureaucrats step in to 'tax' their new pay or exact application 'fees' or some such, that is until manufacturers go elsewhere. Growing up is a process for societies just like it is for people. Trying to mess with that process is only going to cause problems. So go curl up in your warm blanket of moral outrage and feel better about yourself and leave these people to grow and evolve to a more mature society that even a whiny liberal can be almost content with.
Foxconn: workers are animals
Apple: customers are (i)sheep.
Go figure.
So, considering the suicides, I am thinking Lemmings ...
How did he NOT mean it in the "insensitive" way it was portrayed? The workers are in fact treated like animals. Come to think of it many animals are treated better.
Economic expediency over humans isn't exacly pretty. It was these realities that caused american western frontier was conquered at the cost of its indigenous population. Even when these necessary evils come to pass the end result isn't necessarily something most would want to live in. Society cannot just exist on one side of an ideological spectrum to be called human.
21st century America didn't spring from the ass of an offended liberal last week. As in all societies there is growth and transformation. Everything you see going on at Foxconn went on here, only worse. At least they have many other societies to look to as examples so their transformation may go more quickly and smoothly. Would you feel better about these workers if they were starving to death in a rice patty rather than committing suicide in a factory? Foxconn doesn't maraud the countryside enslaving villagers to work in their factories, these people show up and ASK for a job. It might suck to work there but what is their alternative? Starving? They could up their pay to US levels and then watch the politicians and bureaucrats step in to 'tax' their new pay or exact application 'fees' or some such, that is until manufacturers go elsewhere. Growing up is a process for societies just like it is for people. Trying to mess with that process is only going to cause problems. So go curl up in your warm blanket of moral outrage and feel better about yourself and leave these people to grow and evolve to a more mature society that even a whiny liberal can be almost content with.
Economic expediency over humans isn't exacly pretty. It was these realities that caused american western frontier was conquered at the cost of its indigenous population. Even when these necessary evils come to pass the end result isn't necessarily something most would want to live in. Society cannot just exist on one side of an ideological spectrum to be called human.
When is the last time in America has 300 people from the same work place all threaten to end their lives at the exact same time? You can try to twist statistics all you wish but face it Foxconn has a problem with suicide. Where else do you see nets being put up around a buildings because jumpers are that common?The reasons for this is also unacceptable the things that have been revealed and how workers are often treated. The defense of Foxconn needs to stop at this point anyone who even tries such just looks like a ass and why even do it?
You also have to look at a cultural difference between Asia and the U.S. Suicide in Asia isn't seen as much of a taboo as suicide in the U.S. is.
Right... I don't think this was a matter of cultural differences, but rather the FACT YOUR PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE THEIR JOBS!! I swear it must be like the 1900s there.
You also have to look at a cultural difference between Asia and the U.S. Suicide in Asia isn't seen as much of a taboo as suicide in the U.S. is.
You have no idea. Firstly, there are many countries and different cultures in Asia. Secondly, major religions in Asia also disapproved suicide. Thirdly, even in Japan, suicide is discouraged today.
...Cities that have accidents, fires, explosions, suicides, murders etc.Not to defend some of that 'bad' things that likely go on at a corporation that size, but things DO happen that even the best efforts of the management ( or the major) can not prevent.
At foxconn things don't happen by accident but by extremely bad management.
The fact that Foxconn has to cover up after the fact is, IMHO, indicative of a very poor choice of words in the original statement. Seems that executives not having a clue of what it is like on the bottom is catching on in China. We export great stuff from the US; the rich have no clue what it is like for the poor.
IMHO, this also indicates that current means of economic compensation is failing all over the world. I don't know what to replace it with or have an answer, just that it seems quite clear it is not working and needs serious rethinking.
ummmmmm, is that where iCrap got the idea of treating its gullible and unwavering fans as too dumb to care? Now it all falls into place.