Worker at Apple iPhone Assembler in China Dies in Suspected Suicide

A worker at a Chinese facility that assembles Apple’s iPhone was found dead this week at the Foxconn Technology Group’s Zhengzhou plant, the company said.

Foxconn said the 28-year-old male worker was found outside one of its buildings on the central China campus Tuesday. A New York-based advocacy group, China Labor Watch, reported that the worker jumped from a building to his death in an apparent suicide.

The Apple supplier, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., fell under the scrutiny of labor groups following several worker suicides in 2010. Since then, the company has said it improved wages and working conditions for its laborers and added a suicide hotline.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and have extended our condolences to the family of the employee, who has worked with our firm since Oct. 18, 2010,” Foxconn spokesman Louis Woo said in a statement.

Foxconn is cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.

A spokesman for China Labor Watch said discussions about the incident were blocked on China’s social media platform Weibo until the company confirmed the death.

Apple could not immediately respond to a request seeking comment. However, Chief Executive Tim Cook visited the facility last October and praised the work of the “talented people” who help make the iPhone 6.

https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/525094685593722880/photo/1

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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