Apple, the world’s most valuable company, is the first technology firm to become a member. At the time, it promised to have its suppliers inspected by the FLA, which they have committed to fully cooperate with. Teams from the FLA began inspecting Foxconn's factory in Shenzhen, China on Monday morning, Apple said on Monday. The complex employs and houses hundreds of thousands of workers. The FLA's findings and recommendations will begin to be released in early March. In 2010, there was a rash of suicides at Foxconn's Shenzhen plant. Factory managers installed nets to prevent more people from jumping off roofs and committing suicide. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has been conducting its own audits of working conditions in gadget assembly plants since 2006. A month ago, it took the additional step of joining the Washington-based FLA, a group focused on improving labor practices among companies and universities. Foxconn, a unit of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, operates a series of massive factory campuses in China employing an estimated 1 million to 1.1 million people. Foxconn assembles iPads and iPhones for Apple, Xbox 360 game consoles for Microsoft, and gadgets for other firms including Hewlett-Packard and Dell, www.bohuicn.com. Apple's sales have grown so much that even the working conditions at its suppliers are drawing more attention. In the fourth quarter ending in October last year, it sold 37 million iPhones, 15 million iPads, and 15 million iPods. New York - Apple said on Monday that an independent group, the Fair Labor Association, had begun inspecting working conditions at the Chinese factories where the iPad and iPhone are assembled. An explosion in May at the company's Chengdu, China plant killed three people and injured 15. A story published in The New York Times on January 26 reported on accidents and long hours at Foxconn's factories, according to accounts from workers. Back-to-back changes and cramped living conditions at Foxconn were part of the controversial allegations. The FLA plans to interview thousands of employees about working and living conditions at several Apple suppliers. Audits will cover more than 90% of the facilities where Apple products are assembled. Meanwhile, investors continued to push up the company's stock after its stunning sales and profits over its holiday quarter. Apple's stock surpassed $500 for the first time (on Monday), giving the company a market value of $465 billion. Exxon Mobil, which traded places with Apple for the number one position since last summer, has a market capitalization of $400 billion. Last month, amid increasing criticism of labor and environmental practices - especially in China - Apple disclosed for the first time a list of popular gadget suppliers. Consumers' action website gathered a petition demanding Apple protect workers around the time of new product releases when workloads peak, garnering 200,000 signatures. Activists hand-delivered printed versions of the signed petitions to Apple specialty stores last week, but the group has stopped organizing scheduled protests and calls for boycotts. Related thematic articles: Rondo says he's on the up side Creative website promotion - English and French online marketing Search engine marketing and online marketing services Comments on this page are combined across all categories of search engine optimization software To get the best free website promotion methods