SO there’s a new iPhone out, hot on the heels of the iPad.
Judging by the hysterical media coverage of these announcements you would have thought the world was receiving something as important as the discovery of penicillin.
There’s been an insanely high amount of coverage of the release of the Californian company’s latest creation.
What hasn’t received so much attention are the working conditions of the employees in the Chinese factory which manufactures these gadgets.
It’s hard to believe that some people, who obviously don’t have to worry about small issues like work, were queuing up for days outside the Apple store in London to be among the first to get an iPad.
The press were all too eager to come along and share in the sheer excitement of being among the first to buy something in a shop.
Those at the top of the queue were pictured jubilantly holding their purchases above their heads like they had won the World Cup.
One lucky customer was actually quoted as saying that he couldn’t thank the staff enough, for being so helpful.
He makes taking credit card details sound like performing open-heart surgery.
Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t quite as much coverage given to the conditions that the people who make the devices find themselves in.
It emerged that 10 employees in the factory were so appalled by their working conditions that they committed suicide, that’s in the last six months alone.
Three others attempted suicide. There would be no photographs of these poor souls jubilantly holding a glorified laptop above their heads.
While we were paying hundreds of pounds for mobile phones and computers, they were earning an average £90 per month and being forced to work up to 80 hours overtime in that period.
Not that anyone really cares. How many, upon hearing these revelations, tore up their mobile phone contracts or vowed never to buy another product from the companies who turn a blind eye as long as the profits keep rolling? I didn’t think so either.
After all, who really cares about the real cost of being able to get onto Facebook as quickly as possible?