Up to 1,000 unpaid student interns worked overtime and night shifts in a Foxconn plant manufacturing PS4s, despite company regulations. The Chinese electronic giant, which also manufactures Apple, Microsoft, and Nintendo products, said today that the situation has been dealt with.
"Immediate actions have been taken to bring that campus into full compliance with our code and policies," Foxconn said in a statement to business news outlet Quartz, including "reinforcing the policies of no overtime and no night shifts for student interns, even though such work is voluntary, and reminding all interns of their rights to terminate their participation in the program at any time."
Though Foxconn says the students from the Xi'an Institute of Technology were free to leave at any time, other reports state that the students were at risk of losing course credits, and thus being unable to graduate, if they refused participation. The interns' coursework was not otherwise related to work on a manufacturing line, the reports say.
In a statement to CVG, Sony said it understands Foxconn adheres to its supplier code of conduct.
"The Sony Group established the Sony Supplier Code of Conduct in June 2005 with the expectation of every supplier agreeing and adhering to the policies of the Sony Group in complying with all applicable laws, work ethics, labour conditions, and respect for human rights, environmental conservation and health and safety. We understand Foxconn fully comprehend and comply with this Sony Supplier Code of Conduct."
