Exactly four years ago, Foxxconn was investigated for abusive employment practices, see iPad Uses Slave Labor.

Apple's inspection team found the claims to be mostly unfounded, however they did discover that at peak production times some employees were working more than 60 hours a week, the limit prescribed in Apple's "Code of Conduct." In addition, a fourth of hourly-workers worked 7 days a week. Then there were military-style drills and punishment periods where workers were made to stand at attention for hours at a time.

Foxconn sued Wang Yu and Weng Bao of China Business News, the journalists who broke the story, for $3.77 million and won a court ruling by bribing the court. Reporters Without Borders sent a letter begging Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs to ask Foxconn to drop the case, which it did.

There have been suicides at the company every year since 2007 with 10 this year alone. It seems that whenever Jobs promises deliveries of Apple products, pressure is put on Foxxconn employees to work even harder than 60 hours a week. They are not allowed to talk or to go to the bathroom.

Instead of improving the inhumane slave conditions of its factories, Foxxconn hung nets around its buildings to cut down on suicide-by-jumping. In addition, employees will be asked to sign pledges saying that they will not commit suicide and will seek help if necessary. Well, that should cut down on suicides.