Understanding Labor Exploitation through Apple Inc.'s Investment in Chinese Foxconn Factories

CHARISSA PATRICIA A, Dr. Randy Wirasta Nandyatama

2021 | Skripsi | S1 ILMU HUBUNGAN INTERNASIONAL

In this borderless era, the economic interest of all international states and non-state actors has become a driving force to international relations. Countries� economic growth has been consequently becoming more dependent on international relations and private companies are expanding rapidly through the available interconnected market. Nevertheless, the conduct of international trade and economy has intermittently overshadowed the fact that labor exploitation is a consequence. Apple Inc.�s investment in Chinese Foxconn factories has long called attention to the labor rights violation conducted since the early 2010s. The rapid growth of this American tech company has augmented the sales for their products through the years. In its pursuit of economic interest through serving the demand of its wide global consumer and lowering its expenses, Apple Inc. has invested in Chinese labor through its manufacturing company Foxconn, where exploitation has been vastly reported to happen. On the other hand, China�s economic growth depends on the development of external entities� economic interests. A dilemma of dependent development emerges and forms the basis of this thesis� research. In this thesis, the writer will elaborate on how Apple Inc.�s labor exploitation has taken place in Chinese Foxconn factories from the perspective of Economic Structuralism.

In this borderless era, the economic interest of all international states and non-state actors has become a driving force to international relations. Countries� economic growth has been consequently becoming more dependent on international relations and private companies are expanding rapidly through the available interconnected market. Nevertheless, the conduct of international trade and economy has intermittently overshadowed the fact that labor exploitation is a consequence. Apple Inc.�s investment in Chinese Foxconn factories has long called attention to the labor rights violation conducted since the early 2010s. The rapid growth of this American tech company has augmented the sales for their products through the years. In its pursuit of economic interest through serving the demand of its wide global consumer and lowering its expenses, Apple Inc. has invested in Chinese labor through its manufacturing company Foxconn, where exploitation has been vastly reported to happen. On the other hand, China�s economic growth depends on the development of external entities� economic interests. A dilemma of dependent development emerges and forms the basis of this thesis� research. In this thesis, the writer will elaborate on how Apple Inc.�s labor exploitation has taken place in Chinese Foxconn factories from the perspective of Economic Structuralism.

Kata Kunci : Labor exploitation, China, Apple Inc., The United States of America, capitalism, dependent development