In 2010, there was a rash of suicides at Foxconn's Shenzhen factory, which manufactures bathroom fixtures. The factory managers installed nets to prevent more people from committing suicide by jumping off the roof. Apple's sales have shrunk, even as the working conditions of its suppliers attract more attention. In the fourth quarter up to October last year, it sold 37 million iPhones, 15 million iPads, and 15 million other devices. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, has been conducting its own audits of working conditions in gadget assembly factories since 2006. A month ago, it took an additional step by joining the Washington-based FLA (Fair Labor Association), a group focused on improving labor practices among companies and universities. The FLA's findings and recommendations will begin to be released in early March. Last month, amid increasing criticism of labor and environmental practices - especially in China - Apple disclosed for the first time the list of suppliers that make its popular gadgets. An explosion in May at the company's Chengdu plant in China caused three deaths and left 15 injured. A New York Times story published on January 26 reported accidents and long hours at Foxconn factories, according to workers' accounts, along with changes in back-to-back shifts and crowded living conditions, all controversial charges against Foxconn. On Monday, Apple announced that an independent panel, the Fair Labor Association, had begun inspecting the working conditions at Chinese factories that assemble iPads and iPhones. The FLA plans to interview thousands of employees about working and living conditions at several Apple suppliers. The audit will cover facilities that account for over 90% of Apple product assembly. The FLA team began inspecting Foxconn's complex in Shenzhen, China, on Monday morning, Apple said. The complex employs and houses hundreds of thousands of workers. A consumer 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 copies of the signatures to Apple specialty stores last week, but the group has stopped organizing protest rallies and calls for boycotts. Foxconn, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry, operates a series of massive factory campuses in China estimated to employ between one million and 1.1 million people. Foxconn assembles iPads and iPhones for Apple, Xbox 360 gaming consoles for Microsoft, and gadgets for other companies including HP and Dell. Apple, the world's most valuable company, is the first technology company to become a member. At the time, it promised that FLA would inspect its suppliers, who have committed to full cooperation. Meanwhile, investors continue to push up the company's stock after its amazing sales and profits over the holiday quarter. Apple's stock surpassed $500 for the first time on Monday, giving the company a market value of $465 billion. ExxonMobil, which has traded places with Apple for the No. 1 position since last summer, has a market capitalization of $400 billion. [Small City Stock Market is engaged in enterprise website construction, website optimization, website promotion, overall marketing planning and implementation of enterprise e-commerce, owns a well-known SEO team in the industry, with rich practical experience and high technical strength, www.melamine-ware.com, provides you with website SEO optimization services, aiming at "marketing and conversion rate", allowing customers to see intuitive results. Business QQ Consultation: 466401604, 8838478 Contact Information: 13422475786] Related thematic articles: Group inspects Apple factory Full network marketing for your website Comments on this page are combined across all categories of search engine optimization software Hacker article Symantec source code ransom fails after Network marketing and website promotion ideas.