Mike Elgan for Cult of Mac:

So that’s what Apple needs to do … Chip away at the problem, iteratively investigating, auditing and fixing. But also pay a little more to suppliers in order to meet these stringent requirements.Apple gets more blame than it deserves for worker abuses in China, and doesn’t get enough credit for the enormous effort the company has expended in raising work standards in China.

I agree with Elgan up to a point, but the danger of Apple paying its suppliers more to meet improved requirements for factory conditions puts it at a disadvantage with its competitors, and that’s not in a place Apple (or its shareholders) wants to be.

In order for things to improve in China, there’s going to have to be a very delicately orchestrated effort between industry, commerce and international diplomacy. Even then, it will take time.