Apple Inc. and Foxconn have reached an agreement earlier this year to improve working conditions in their plants. [File Photo]

Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), a Hong Kong-based NGO, reported on Thursday that labor law violations continue to exist at Foxconn factories, including too-high production targets, abusive treatment of employees and pay reductions.

According to a survey carried out by SACOM among 170 employees from several Foxconn plants, their managers still resort to humiliating disciplinary actions. "The survey shows that Apple Inc. and Foxconn fail in handling violations," the report said.

"I haven't seen any sign of major improvements," said Geoffrey Crothall, spokesman of China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based human rights organization. "Up to now Foxconn has just corrected some of its mistakes and done some PR work. I don't think its problems will be solved in a short term, given outsized factories and complex situation," he said.

Crothall said that Foxconn should conduct more comprehensive dialogues with its employees. "Employee satisfaction will rise if the workers are given a voice on wages and working conditions through a more democratic system," he said.

SACOM found in the survey that despite a rise in the basic wage, the total pay for Foxconn workers declines due to shortened working hours. Some overloaded workers have to work overtime unpaid.

"There is not much progress. We are still feeling overwhelmed by work pressure," said a Foxconn staff member in Shenzhen.

In response to SACOM's report, Foxconn issued a statement in an e-mail saying that the welfare of employees was undoubtedly the top priority of the company. "We are striving to provide a safe and pleasant work environment for over one million employees on the mainland."

The poor working conditions in Foxconn plants have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Fair Labor Association (FLA), a U.S. non-profit organization, launched a probe this February over Apple's co-packers, including Foxconn plants located in Shenzhen and Chengdu. At the end of this March, FLA released a report exposing dozens of violations of labor rights in Foxconn, including extreme hours, unpaid wages and too-low pay.

Apple Inc. and Foxconn have reached an agreement earlier this year to improve working conditions in their plants.