Methods of ethical issues implemented in Apple: 1.

Labor and human rights: Apple doesnt allow suppliers to act unethically or in ways that threaten the rights of the workers-even when local laws and customs permit such practices. Apple is working e cessively to end the e cessive overtime. !heir supplier code of conduct limits workweeks to "# hours e cept in unusual circumstances and all overtime must be voluntary. !o force these rules apple tracked work hours weekly at a handful of their suppliers$ by doing so they could address the problems %uickly with the suppliers who showed e cessive hours. !o solve the issue of underage labor and to eradicate it from the industry$ Apple has a strict policy. !hey undergo regular audits of their suppliers and if they found any evidence of child labor$ they demand an immediate corrective action by making the supplier return the underage worker to school and finance their education at a school chosen by the family. Moreover the children also continue receiving income matching what he&she received when he&she was employed. !o ensure that the supplier continue to uphold their financial commitment and that the children remain in school apple conduct a regular follow up of the case. '. (ourcing materials: Apple is committed to sing conflict )free minerals. !hey have *oined the publicprivate alliance for responsible mineral trade which is a *oint initiative among governments$ companies and civil society to support supply chain solutions to conflict minerals challenges in the +emocratic ,epublic of -ongo. .n an industry wide effort to help suppliers source conflict-free materials$ we continue to align our program with /rgani0ation for 1conomic -o-operation and +evelopment 2/1-+3 guidelines$ and we are working with the 1lectronic .ndustry -iti0enship -oalition 21.--3 and the 4lobal e-(ustainability .nitiative 24e(.3. !he primary focus of the 1.-- and 4e(. -onflict-5ree (melter programs is to certify %ualified smelters as conflict-free through an independent third-party audit process. 6. Apples commitment to transparency: 7ecause Apple believe in honestly sharing their findings 5or the past seven years$ Apple made the effort to publish reports in the audits they performed in their supply chain.

8. 9ealth : safety: !o ensure the safety of workers $ Apple in their suppliers code of conduct force their suppliers to provide proper protective gear$ guardrails$ safety harnesses$ and other safety e%uipment$ as well as comprehensive$ up-to-date training for workers. !hey also conduct a speciali0ed process safety assessment at certain supplier facilities. ;. 1nvironmental responsibilities: Apple pushes suppliers through the whole corrective action process$ which included third-party audits under the supervision of local <4/s. !his approach re%uires a high level of transparency and public participation. !o ensure their standards and approach reflect material environmental issues$ they work with independent organi0ations such as the <atural ,esources +efense -ouncil 2<,+-3$ the 1nvironmental =rotection Agency 21=A3$ and the .nstitute of =ublic and 1nvironmental Affairs 2.=13. !hey perform focused environmental audits at suppliers with processes that have higher potential for environmental impact and suppliers that have been identified in the past as violators of local regulations or Apples environmental standards. >hen they discover serious impact to the environment$ they re%uire the process to be shut down until they can be remedied. Moreover$ to hold themselves accountable$ they reference variety of e ternal sources including the .=1 pollution database$ which highlights suppliers with environmental citations by local regulatory agencies in -hina.

-urrent ethical dilemmas: 1. >orking conditions in suppliers factories versus low cost of production: /ne of the most ethical dilemmas Apple continues to face is low cost and the

working conditions of factories. Apple uses its dominant market position 2buying power3 to ac%uire these services at the lowest possible price$ thus keeping the largest share of the profit for itself. 1ven though workers are paid high salaries when compared to other workers working in the same working conditions$ however this doesnt makes it better for the workers. /ne e ample is 5o conn Apple?s manufacturing partner. 5o conn employees work well over 8# hours a day$ which averages out to around 1' hours in a typical shift. .n addition to that$ 5o conn places e cessive overtime on their subordinates by having them work @ days a week and up to 1; days straight without any time off in between. !he employees of 5o conn had been working under ha0ardous conditions that resulted in many in*uries. !hese working conditions lead two employees to commit suicide .n '#1#$ 16@ workers at an apple supplier in eastern china were in*ured after they were ordered to use a poisonous chemical to clean i=hone screens. Moreover$ @@ people were in*ured and four killed in e plosions at i=ad factories in '#11. '. =rofits versus 1nvironmental responsibility: +espite the steps taken by Apple to become a greener company $ such as reducing its environmental impact at its facilities $ the company admits that the ma*ority of its emissions come from its product. .n '##A Apple stated that A@B of its emissions come from the life cycle of its product. (ince Apples success depends on constantly developing and launching new products$ Apple faces an ethical dilemma when it comes to the environmental impact of its products. ,ecommendations: 1. >hen it comes to working conditions $ what . recommend is for Apple to *oin forces with authorities in those countries where health and safety violations are happening to force the implementation of an appropriate code of conduct to resolve the working conditions dilemma. '. !o resolve the issue of the impact of its products$ Apple should make the process of producing the products more environmental friendly. 1ncourage people to recycle their old devices. And work on a having on a longer cycle than one year.

 Custice and common good tests: >hen it comes to improving working conditions Apple have taken the following decisions: 1. !he *oined forces with 5air labor Association 25LA3 in con*unction with 5o conn by establishing a code of conduct that ensures that suppliers maintain safe$ healthy and environmentally sound facilities. '. 5o conn is re%uired bring its factories into full compliance with -hinese legal limits and 5LA standards on working hours of 8A hours per week including overtime. 6. 7oth Apple and 5o conn will pay any worker due unpaid overtime. 8. 5o conn will also create compensatory agreement to protect employees from losing income caused by mandate for less overtime. 7y applying the *ustice test we can see that both Apple and 5o conn and bearing the burdens of this decision and it is fair distribution of the burden. !herefore$ . believe Apples decision is an ethical decision.

Applying the common good test $ the parts of common good involved in this decision is human growth$ public safety. 7oth the society and the company benefit from the protection of these two common good aspects because with stable family and the safety of the employees comes production$ without these employees the company wont be able to produce the parts re%uired for the production of its devices. !he proposed action doesnt conflict with this obligation $ it actually promote them $ by proving a better working conditions . therefore apple decision is ethical.

>hen it comes to the impact of its product on the environment the company took these following steps: 1. !he company builds its products with materials that are suitable for recycling. '. !o encourage its customers to recycle$ Apple has created a recycling program at its stores for old i=ods$ mobile phones$ and Macs. -onsumers that trade in their old i=ods can receive a ten percent discount on a newer version. -onsumers recycling old Macs that still have value can receive gift cards.

Looking at this solution the distribution of the burden is not fair$ although the company now produces products to be recycled $ and encourages it customers to recycle by giving them gift cards and discounts $ the company still have a short cycle by producing and launching new products each year. !herefore the company benefits more from recycling than the customers . . conclude that the decision undertaken by apple to solve this issue is unethical decision and the right decision is to promote recycling and having a longer cycle than one year. >hen applying the common good test to this decision $ the common good aspect involved in this issue is environment$ the decision doesnt conflict with this common good aspect$ in addition it promotes and encourages recycling that protects the environment $ therefore . conclude that the decision was an ethical decision.

-reating an ethical policy for Apple: Apple =ledge to make sure : 1. >orking conditions in its supply chair are safe. '. !heir manufacturing process and its product are environmentally responsible. 6. !heir (uppliers comply and implement the laws of the countries in which they operate. !o ensure the compliance of its suppliers with this code of ethics$ the company has the following (tanders that re%uire its (uppliers to follow : Labor rights: 1. >orking hours: (uppliers must not e ceed the "# hours limit of working hours unless in emergency. /vertime must be voluntarily. '. -hild labor: (uppliers are forbidden from hiring children. (uppliers should follow the minimum age set by the country they operate in it.

6. >ages:

(uppliers shall pay workers the minimum wage re%uired by the regulations of the country in which they operate.

8. 9ealth and safety: (upplier shall not e pose workers to situation where their health and safety is compromised. 9ealth safety training must be conducted to train workers.

!he 1nvironment: 7eing environmentally responsible is the only way to maintain earth and nature. (uppliers must use materials that dont hurt the environmentD Apple tries to make its process and products to be environmentally. Apple also works on encouraging its customers to recycle its devices.

!he policy ensures that the company follows the right rules when it comes to working conditions and makes is a pioneer in the field of human rights and working conditions. Moreover $ customers are getting more concerned about environment and are looking into buying products that a green and more environmentally friendly.

,eferences :

E!wo 5aces of Apple.E !wo 5aces of Apple. <.p.$ n.d. >eb. A +ec. '#16. Fhttp:&&www.carnegiecouncil.org&publicatio E7usiness: 1thical +ilemmas at Apple.E 7usiness: 1thical +ilemmas at Apple. <.p.$ n.d. >eb. A +ec. '#16. Fhttp:&&omibra.blogspot.com&'#1'&#"&ethical-dilemmas-atapple.htmlG. EApple supplier audit reveals child labour$ environmental violations.E 5inancial =ost 7usiness Apple supplier audit reveals child labour environmentalviolations -omments. <.p.$ n.d. >eb. A +ec. '#16. Fhttp:&&business.financialpost.com&'#1'&#1&16&apple-supplier-auditreveals-child-labour-environmental-violations&HIIlsaJa16b-KdafG. ELeaders >e +eserve.E Leaders >e +eserve. <.p.$ n.d. >eb. A +ec. '#16. Fhttp:&&leaderswedeserve.wordpress.com&'#1'&#1&61&applesnew-leader-faces-ethical-dilemmas-at-fo conn&G.