TNC Case Study: Apple Global systems and global governance

How else has Apple contributed positively to Cork?

1. Helped provide infrastructure. 2. Attracted other high tech firms to the area (agglomeration) 3. provided inspiration for local education and R&D

Greenpeace (an NGO) have criticised Apple for 4 main reasons.

1. Reliance on non-renewable energy to power data centres. 2. Use of toxic chemicals such as PVC. 3. Factories in China putting toxic chemicals into local water supplies. 4. Lack of recyclability of many Apple products.

How many countries does it have stores in?

16

Positive impacts in Cork. As well as the 4,000 people it employs directly how many people are thought to have jobs thanks to the supply chain

2,500

How many employees?

98,000

In terms of spatial organisation, where is the HQ and research and design centre

Apple Campus, Cupertino, California

In terms of spatial organisation, where is Apple's EU HQ and only fully owned manufacturing facility?

Cork,Republic of Ireland

What about use of child and student labour by Foxconn?

Employees under 18 have the same working conditions and some students forced to work as a condition of graduating.

What is the name of the company that Apple have out sourced their production to?

Foxconn

What happened to 50 workers at Lianjian tech in Suzhou?

Poisoned by a toxic chemical used to clean iPad screens (adequate ventilation hadn't been installed in an attempt to reduce costs)

Where is China is Foxconn's production of Apple products mainly based?

Shenzen

Foxconn City in Shenzen is a business park, what other high tech companies have located there?

Sony, Dell

Where is Foxconn based?¼

Taiwan

How much are the wages paid in Foxconn city?

US$150-200

In 2006 there were reports that workers in Shenzen were working in "sweat shops" conditions, what did these conditions include?

Working over 60 hours a week for US$100, enforced overtime