Well-respected Chinese site Zol, owned by CNET's parent company CBS Interactive, has published a report claiming that Apple will be providing financial subsidies to Foxconn's workers, helping boost their current monthly salary of roughly $130 each.
Only last week Apple released their first statement on the Foxconn suicides, saying that they are "in direct contact with Foxconn senior management and we believe they are taking this matter very seriously." Now though, it sounds like Apple will be contributing financially to the welfare of the people making their products, giving around 1 or 2 per cent of the profits to the employees of the Shenzhen factory.
This hasn't been confirmed by Apple, but if true, it's definitely a step in the right direction at attempting to stop Foxconn employees from feeling suicide is the only option. When the company pays out the equivalent of ten years' salary to the family of deceased employees, it might feel like the right choice for unmotivated, disheartened factory workers. Apple chipping in with a percentage of their profits would definitely help raise hopes of a better future for the employees. [Zol via MIC Gadget]