Suicide Threats At Xbox 360 Plant? E’gads.

Suicide is a big problem at product plants around the world. Our shiny iPhones get produced for us, commodified, and we seldom stop to contemplate the shiznit that goes into making them! Alas. Things are getting serious at a Microsoft plant, with mass threats of suicide.

Kotaku:

According to Chinese anti-government website  China Jasmine Revolution  (via  Watch China Times), the workers were protesting denied compensation they were promised.

On Jan. 2, the workers asked for a raise. Foxconn told them they could either keep their jobs with no pay increase or quit and get compensation. Most decided to quit with compensation. However, the agreement was supposedly terminated, and the workers never received their payments.

Website  Record China  reported that the uproar the incident actually caused Xbox 360 production to be temporarily suspended.

The mayor of Wuhan intervened to talk down the group down, and on Jan. 3 at 9pm, the group of 300 decided not to jump, ending what could have been a deadly game of chicken.

Suicides at Foxconn made major news in 2010 when over a dozen employees committed suicide, leading to Foxconn installing suicide prevention nets at some of its facilities.

In 2010,  Kotakuasked Microsoft  about Foxconn and the reported abuses. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer said at the time, “Foxconn has been an important partner of ours and remains an important partner. I trust them as a responsible company to continue to evolve their process and work relationships. That is something we remain committed to–the safe and ethical treatment of people who build our products. That’s a core value of our company.”

Kotaku  is following up with Microsoft over this latest incident.

UPDATE:
A Microsoft spokeperson replied to Kotaku with the following comment on the situation at Foxconn:

“Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue. We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge. Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy.”

Serious shit, man!