Apple contracts with FoxConn, a Taiwanese owned contractor that manufactures 60% of the world's consumer electronics to assemble iPhones in China. There is ZERO child labor involved. Apple's contracts with its supply chain companies, which are closely monitored by Apple's own employees, provide that if any underage workers are found working on any Apple products, the contract supplier MUST provide a free education for that underage worker all the way through University graduation, including room and board, or until age 26, which ever occurs first.
That is very strong dis-incentive for any such contractors to knowingly hire underage workers. Surveys of Apple's entire supply chain done in 2015, covering almost 1.5 million workers, found only 67 underage workers, all of whom were using false IDs or IDs borrowed from relatives. Every one of them was offered the educational scholarships. Surprisingly, some 30% or so of them opted not to take the scholarship, choosing instead to go work for some other company so they could continue sending money to their families.
One contractor who was discovered blatantly violating the underage worker rules of Apple's contract, hiring slightly over 100 underage workers after being warned by Apple, had their TWO BILLION DOLLAR contract pulled by Apple, and the contract awarded instead to the next lowest bidder, costing Apple more money to do the same work by another company who WOULD abide by the strictures in the contract. Apple's contracts also specify working conditions and require workers be paid better than workers on other makers products.
iPhones are also made in Brazil and India. Many of the Components of the iPhone and iPad are made elsewhere than China, including in the USA by American workers. It is entirely designed in California, as is the software.
Thank you for the info. I use no apple products.