A report on Foxconn by university teachers and students from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan was published on Oct. 9th, Beijing Evening News reports.

The report details Foxconn's managerial shortcomings, including obligatory overtime, poor workplace safety, and excessive work pressure, which, it says, contributed to the serial suicides. The findings are based on 1,736 questionnaires completed in 12 Foxconn plants in Shenzhen, Kunshan and elsewhere. Fourteen investigators obtained first-hand information by working undercover in the plants.

Li Jing was one of the undercover investigators. She said Foxconn implements a strict administrative code of conduct. Any violation of discipline is harshly punished and the work manual lists 127 punishable offences. Supervisors often yell at subordinates even though it is prohibited by the manual.

Foxconn workers rely on overtime to make a living wage. Around 75 percent only have 4 rest days per month, and 73.3 percent work more than 10 hours a day. But the rewards are poor. Foxconn announced salary increases of 30 percent following the suicides, but the increase was swallowed up by cancellation of bonuses and increased rents.

Earlier this month, Foxconn said it was implementing a 100 percent pay rise, but most employees have little chance of seeing the cash.