Economists Guojun He and Jeffrey Perloff at the University of California, Berkeley, published a study that details widespread illegal working conditions among Chinese companies despite the scrutiny of Western audits.

...more than half of Chinese employees in audited firms worked more than the legal limit of 44 hours per week. Between one-third and one-half of those working overtime did not receive legally required overtime wages for the extra hours.

Does Customer Auditing Help Chinese Workers?

Foremski's Take:This study categorically shows that the audits announced with great fanfare by Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and other firms such as Nike, are not working. It's time to move beyond PR rhetoric.

They have the evidence from a neutral third-party to act and be seen to be tough with their sub-contractors. Otherwise, people will talk about them and it'll be a conversation about hypocrites.

My advice to those companies: "It's time to act, and it's good for your brand, too."

Let's have fair trade electronics now. 

Please see: 

Foxconn Suicides: Is It Time For "Fair Trade" Electronics? Would You Buy A "Fair Trade" iPhone?

"Think Fair" A Potential Apple Follow Up to "Think Different" 

Analysis: Here's How Apple Could Become The First Fair Trade Tech Company

Image by Damien Van Achter.

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Below: Photos of a vigil for dead Foxconn workers outside the Apple store in San Francisco June, 2010. By Chris Knight.