Whenever there’s a new iDevice being released, it’s accompanied by reports of the hardware being put together by the cheap Chinese slave labour factories run by Foxconn. Now those claims are being levied against Sony and its PlayStation 4.
While the PlayStation 3 was made in Japan, the significantly cheaper PlayStation 4 has been outsourced to the infamous Foxconn. Reports from Chinese media say that the PS4 is being produced by Foxconn using even cheaper labour than their regular, perpetually depressed factory workers; they’re using college students, who’ve apparently been “forced” to put the console together under some pretty horrible conditions
Reports say that "thousands" of students from Xi’an Technological University were forced to work at Foxconn’s Yantai plant as part of some study/work intern exchange program this year. Apparently it was mandatory for the students, who would not be able to receive their qualifications without participating.
The students say they were given tasks outside of their fields of study (via China.com), including straight up manual labour.
"It’s like being a robot," said student Wang Yiran, who claims she was made to do menial jobs in building the PS4 and assembling units. she also claims they were made to work 11 hours a day, sometimes longer – and were granted just one half-hour break for lunch, and a ten minute break in the mornings.
If true, this’ll put a damper on the Ps4 launch – especially when you open up the box to realise that it was all put together by an overworked, underpaid kid.
Last Updated: October 10, 2013
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 13:39
This may sway the masses to Ms if it is indeed true! unless Ms is using actual children to assemble the Xbones…
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 13:42
lol No it won’t. At best someone will think of that before buying one & think it’s terrible, then buy one anyway because they want it.
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 13:44
Exactly, humans love to make noises, but if those noises mean no gaming time, pah!
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 14:32
pfft, nobody cares, half the shit we buy is made in similar and worse conditions, it’ll pass as all bad news does
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:18
Banana Jim looks at his tekkies…. Yep! Made in Sri Lanka! Some poor Sri Lankan child probably made my shoes. I wonder if he was paid more than a dollar that month.
Oh a Nestle bar… mmm some poor exploited Congolese (probably a child) helped harvest the cocoa.
Oh… petrol in my gas tank… The Niger delta is in ruin because of Shell and their nefarious practices in that region.
The world is a shitty place….
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 17:32
The world is a shitty place, if you really want to feel guilt free you can look at it as providing jobs for the poverty stricken children who would have to beg for even less on the streets.
In the end, it happens in every day in ways we can only imagine, either benefit from it and learn to live guilt free, or cry and live a life filled with remorse and worry over the poor people in other countries.
I choose to ignore, out of sight, out of mind.
Now if you will excuse me, these sticky bombs arent going to wreak havoc by themselves…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:44
Exactly! That’s the only way NOT to become an alcoholic. 😛 But seriously though, this stuff can weigh you down. That’s why I have the utmost respect for people working for NGOs.
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 17:46
It can, but luckily I have the ability to block things out quite effectively. some people call it lack of compassion, I call it a coping mechanism. 🙂
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 13:40
I suppose MS are using virgin Unicorns that shit rainbows?
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 13:41
At $500 you’re probably right. Rainbow shit sounds expensive.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:19
Nah! Microsoft would NEVER use Chinese labour for their consoles, it’s all American! ho ho ho! 😛
Uberutang
October 10, 2013 at 13:41
What a brilliant idea.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 13:41
On the flipside, at least we all get cheap PS4’s !!
DISCLAIMER: this is meant to be a snarky comment. No Chinese child labourers were involved in it’s utterance but their hard work was definitely required in the evolution of it’s final phrasing.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 13:53
nice disclaimer.
ElimiNathan
October 10, 2013 at 13:43
Where’s my whip !? Put that console of mine together properly !!!
Trebzz
October 10, 2013 at 13:44
Aren’t Levi’s jeans made in Vietnam? 😛
Martin du preez
October 10, 2013 at 13:44
What electronics are NOT made in Chinese sweatshops these days? Samsung and Apple are also guilty of this.
Arturo Rincon
October 16, 2013 at 22:27
microsoft.
Martin du preez
October 17, 2013 at 07:04
MS is not an electronic.
Umar ZoMg Reiner
October 10, 2013 at 13:48
Well let’s Not buy a PS4 then…Also throw away a wii/3DS if you have one, oh you have an Iphone?Apple uses Foxconn too, THROW IT OUT… Don’t forget about your Xbox now
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 13:51
Almost EVERYTHING is made some dingy factory somewhere in Asia.
Umar ZoMg Reiner
October 10, 2013 at 13:51
Seems dodgy that this news came out a month before the PS4’s release
HvR
October 10, 2013 at 14:42
Also Nokia, Motorolla, Dell, Acer, Cisco and ..wait for it.. Microsoft products!!!!
Although not the final assembly, but most of the electronic assembly of the Xbox products are done by Foxconn.
Fweds
October 11, 2013 at 01:43
This news is about Sony and the PS4 nothing to do with the other company’s who are obviously NOT using the same method.
Hammersteyn
October 14, 2013 at 14:51
Only MS is using the same method 😛
Kyou
October 10, 2013 at 16:53
I ALREADY THREW AWAY MY 3DS!! IT WAS A WASTE OF MONEY ANYWAY!! AND FUCK POKEMON X AND Y, THAT GAME SUCKS ANYWAY!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:50
Dude… lol what is it with you and Pokemon?
Kyou
October 10, 2013 at 18:55
POKEMON!? IT’S DEAD, COMPLETELY DEAD!! R.I.P. POKEMON!! 1996-2013
Lord Chaos
October 10, 2013 at 13:52
All this will do is confirm that I should wait a while before getting the new hardware while they whip… umm… I mean iron out the kinks.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 10, 2013 at 13:53
For reference, the header picture is not one of my family reunions.
Lord Chaos
October 10, 2013 at 13:54
I was thinking there were way to few people in the header for that. ;P
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 13:55
Felt the need to add that? Why not tell us all about those Gta v physics again…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 10, 2013 at 13:57
Lol. That was a joke. Don’t take a thing I say on Twitter seriously. Not bored of it, just too busy to play,.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 14:00
Pitty would enjoy playing with you online!
Anon A Mouse
October 10, 2013 at 14:57
Tim because I already had a go at you earlier this morning and because I have a belly full of coffee I will let this double meaning sentence slide 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 13:57
And here I was going to ask if your sister was single.
Umar ZoMg Reiner
October 10, 2013 at 13:57
Dammit, I was busy playing Where’s Geoffrey
Tarisma
October 10, 2013 at 13:54
wont effect anything the masses don’t care, we live in a consumer world its all me me me me me me me.
oVg
October 10, 2013 at 14:00
😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:24
They should have used child labour.
I for one is keen on the youth entering the workforce at an early age. I think if you hit 10 years old, you should already be in an office or in a factory making shit. THAT’S WHAT’S WRONG WITH SOCIETY TODAY! Too many slackers playing video games and not paying taxes!! I mean look at all those 23 year old hipster scum sitting in coffee shops – doing nothing but blogging, tweeting and sipping Ugandan coffee. If they had the work ethic of a 10 year old Sri Lankan or Indonesian labourer, then this world would have been a better place.
Banana’s Republican Right-Wing Rant!
oVg
October 10, 2013 at 17:28
u have my vote
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:46
You will be my trusted advisor. I look forward to you joining my cabinet, Admiral General OVG!
The Greater Southern Kingdom of Nambabwe will rise and we will be its beret-wearing leaders! Hopefully one day we will even invade Zambia and make that country our holiday resort! Muahahahah Muahahaha!
oVg
October 10, 2013 at 18:06
Nambabwe is in for a treat. We learn from the best 😛
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 18:13
Parliament is the cure for insomnia!!!!
Hammersteyn
October 14, 2013 at 14:51
I though for a second it was a cyanide attack. How is it possible for so many people to sleep during parliament?
jojo
October 10, 2013 at 14:05
Isnt everything made using cheap chinese labour..everything from the pc im writing this on to the clothes im wearing right now..this is nothing more than a bit of sensationlism…
HvR
October 10, 2013 at 14:43
These days they are also using cheap Mexican (for American markets) and Hungarian (for European market) labour.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
October 10, 2013 at 14:11
Every single dam thing you buy is made in China… All companies do this!
Well except for Apple… They are obviously worse and deserve more criticism.
Seraphim
October 10, 2013 at 14:13
I (almost) feel that these kids work better hours than I do.
Except I get off early for part-time lectures twice a week.
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 14:34
awwww shame, students made to work long hours as part of practical learning in harsh conditions in order to pass, what travesty, fucking little crybabies.
Try being a chef, I worked under inhumane conditions, 15 hour days, the worst pay you could imagine, while studying and for many years after to get into a decent position, and thats totally legal, kids these days are soft ass pansies, harden the fuck up.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:49
My cousin is a chef…. brutal! Absolutely brutal!
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 17:55
Exactly, and these little pussies crying about being forced to assemble PS4’s for longer their agreed upon 9 hour work day, and for work experience no less! Forgive me if I dont rush to the sympathy bank to withdraw all i have immediately.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:57
Man, now that you mentioned they need to “harden the fuck up”, I just read that Chopper Reed died. 🙁
Brenz
October 10, 2013 at 18:18
oh shit you right, he died yesterday.
totally crazy guy, RIP
Gavin Mannion
October 10, 2013 at 14:41
Why isn’t the alt-text on that image “Attack of the clones”?
FoxOneZA
October 10, 2013 at 15:11
Overworked, underpaid kid with no experience.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 18:02
Meanwhile, just down the aisle, Wan’s brother is assembling an xbone…. with nothing but some wires, an empty can of flavoured coconut drink and the tears of an exploited student.
Next Gen is going to be interesting. Maybe, I should reconsider being an early adopter…. :/ I demand experienced workers building my crap!
fred
October 10, 2013 at 15:40
nar sony not like apple 😉
Kyou
October 10, 2013 at 16:56
THEY NEED TO ABOLISH SWEATSHOPS IMMEDIATELY NOW!!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:25
If Tropico 4 taught me anything, WE NEED MORE SWEATSHOPS ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA!
Kyou
October 11, 2013 at 05:34
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!? WE DON’T NEED NO MORE SWEATSHOPS, SO GET THE FUCK OFF BEFORE IT GETS REAL UGLY FOR YOU!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 11, 2013 at 12:38
Yes we do! Think about it, massive factory complexes filled to the brim with underpaid and overworked workers – products filling up warehouse, ready for export!
It warms my heart! The profits! THE PROFITS!! But first, we need to outlaw unions and return the labour laws to before 1850. What’s the best kind of worker? An UNPAID WORKER!
Muahahahah Muahahahahaha Muahahahahhha! The Monopoly man would be so proud! 😀
Kyou
October 11, 2013 at 18:29
I HATE YOU!!! THIS ISN’T FUNNY!!! YOU THINK ADDING MORE SWEATSHOPS IS ALRIGHT AND FUNNY!!! NO IT’S NOT!!! THAT’S JUST SAD!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD!!! OH GOD DROP A COLONY ON EARTH!!!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 11, 2013 at 19:04
So I guess you’re not applying for the foreman’s position?
Flops
October 10, 2013 at 17:07
These are the same children that build those cheap idevices that are losing market share faster than Microsoft.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:13
Much ado about nothing, I spotted this bit of news earlier today, and essentially the students are doing the work as part of their in-service training (it’s for varsity credit). Of course, the spin is the most funny part of all of it. Are people so desperate for something negative on Sony? Anything to make the xbone look a little less like the dog turd it is?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 17:58
Anyway, those damn kids better not screw around. If my PS4 breaks after only a month, there’s going to be hell to pay!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 18:18
But just before we get the usual suspects, like a certain Foxhound…. http://www.geek.com/games/foxconn-is-already-assembling-the-new-xbox-for-microsoft-1555877/
Foxconn is assembling the xbone too!
Hammersteyn
October 14, 2013 at 14:50
How stupid does the trolls feel now after the wheel chair story and the free PS4 consoles today?
Mark Treloar
October 11, 2013 at 08:54
Double edged sword, if you consider that MS and Sony are both using AMD SOC in their systems
CypherGate
October 11, 2013 at 09:38
Now thats depressing. Its a shame some companies do this to maximize profits. I hope this isnt true cause i have a PS4 preordered and would feel guilty knowing some kid worked like a slave for almost nothing to get me something that good.
Uberutang
October 11, 2013 at 10:00
This is not a bad thing. All 3 parties win.
Customers gets cheap goods.
Companies get contracts to produce goods.
Students get job experience at a grass roots level.
It is like the zuma year our medical students do.
We should do the same here for all industries.
Want to be a mining engineer? 1 year in a mine for you.
Design cars? One year on the factory floor.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 11, 2013 at 12:43
Want to become a politician? One year in prison!
asfgsag
October 12, 2013 at 12:17
real cancel ps4 pre order