Vote: Will Apple's labor reforms mean a breakthrough?

Updated Friday, March 30, 2012 at 07:21 PM

Vote: Will Apple's labor reforms mean a breakthrough?

Jon Talton

After the investigative journalism of the New York Times revealed the sweat-shop conditions in China that go into making Apple's super-cool products, Apple engaged the Fair Labor Association to do an independent audit. CEO Tim Cook also visited a Foxconn assembly line in Zhengzhou this week. The audit confirmed major violations of labor law. There's a reason Foxconn has been plagued by suicides.

Now Apple and Foxconn (which also does work for Amazon.com and others) are pledging to do better. Among the reforms: Better wages and working conditions. What do you think?

Read on for the best links of the week and the haiku:

The Week's Links:

Is eurozone austerity self-defeating, or is it all Germany's fault? || Mainly Macro

Killing Pell grants: What are we doing? || Jared Bernstein

Older women struggle to make ends meet || NYT Economix

Obama, gas prices and climate change || The New Yorker

One big chart: There is no Social Security crisis || The Atlantic

A rational reason for high oil prices || Econbrowser

Demand, not supply, is restraining the recovery || CBS News

In tough times young adults are choosing cool cities || Ad Week

Now is the key time to invest in infrastructure || Treasury Notes

How (and why) banks increased total outstanding derivatives to record || Zero Hedge