Apple’s Cook visits plant of Foxconn

SHANGHAI - Reuters

Cook (2nd L) talks to employees as he visits an iPhone plant in China. REUTERS photo

Apple’s Tim Cook, on his first trip to China as the chief executive officer, has visited an iPhone production plant run by the Foxconn Technology Group, which is being accused of improper labor practices.

China is the world’s largest mobile market and already Apple’s second-biggest market overall, but its growth there is clouded by issues ranging from a contested iPad trademark to treatment of local labor Picture handouts dated March 28 and e-mailed to Reuters show Cook seen smiling and meeting workers in the newly built Foxconn ZhengzhouTechnology Park in the north central province of Hebei.

The facility employs 120,000 people, the handouts said.

Foxconn is a major part of Apple’s global supply chain, assembling most of its iPhones and iPads, but has been hit by a string of worker suicides in recent years.