Overall compliance with Apple’s code of conduct for suppliers is improving, but the number of serious violations of its policies doubled in 2017, the company reported, based on a series of audits of major suppliers conducted in 2017. For its latest Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, Apple audited 756 suppliers spanning 30 different countries, 197 of them for the first time. According to the report, Apple uncovered 44 “core violations” — double the 2016 total — with issues ranging from falsifying working hours to harmful environmental practices.
Compliance with Apple’s 60-hour work week fell to 94 percent of suppliers from 98 percent in 2016. The company said it uncovered 38 cases of falsification of working hours data in 2017, up from nine cases the year before. Apple has been conducting the supplier audits for 12 years. Those with violations are given a probation notice and, if corrections are not made, Apple will consider cutting ties with the non-compliant contractor.
