Apple's investigations of iPod factories in China are still ongoing

Company denies report on a Chinese website that the investigations are complete

3 July 2006 13:42 GMT / By Amber Maitland

Apple has denied that it has finished its investigation of the factory in China that produces iPods and other products.

Last week a website called China CRS reported that a spokesperson from Foxconn had told them Apple had finished investigating the factories and had given them the all-clear.

However, an Apple spokesman has now told BusinessWeek that the investigation is still underway.

Steve Dowling of Apple said, "This is a thorough audit, which includes employee working and living conditions, interviews of employees and managers, compliance with overtime and wage regulations, and other areas as necessary to insure adherence to Apple's supplier code of conduct".

"Apple's supplier code of conduct sets the bar higher than accepted industry standards and we take allegations of noncompliance very seriously."

The investigations were launched after the Mail on Sunday published a report painting a sombre picture of conditions at Apple's suppliers' factories.

The report on China CRS also said that Foxconn had admitted its employees work about 80 extra hours each month.