Microsoft to Investigate Mass Suicide Threat at Xbox Factory in China
Microsoft plans to investigate the recent attempted mass suicide of around 300 workers at a Foxconn factory in China, according to a statement made by the company on Wednesday.
Foxconn is a manufacturer for companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Sony and mass producing products for them such as the Xbox 360, iPhone and the iPad.
Unverified reports on the incident from anti-government Chinese news websites revealed that about 300 workers from the factory walked up to the roof of the Taiwanese, owned factory on Jan. 2 to protest against their employers over pay.
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Other websites have repeated those reports such as Kotaku.
The reports claim that the Foxconn employees asked the bosses for a raise and their response to the them was that they continue to work at their current salary or leave with compensation. Although many left, the company did not provide the compensation.
China Jasmine Revolution website reported that the workers were only dissuaded a day later when the Wuhan mayor talked them out of committing suicide.
Several suicides have taken place within Chinese Foxconn factories in recent years including 14 workers in 2010. They had similar complaints over low pay and also over poor working conditions.
A mass suicide taking place at a company that produces products for the likes of Apple and Microsoft could be detrimental for anyone associated with them. This factory in particular manufactured Xbox 360 consoles for Microsoft.
