The latest in Foxconn’s methods to deal with employee suicides is apparently to get them to sign a letter promising that they won’t kill themselves. Oh boy! Terry Gou really ought to hire some suicide prevention officer with better ideas! Employees have already complained that the letter makes it seem like they could be carted off to a mental hospital if they argue with a supervisor and that they don’t know what the consequences are if they don’t sign. (Foxconn manufactures, among other products, Apple’s Mac Mini, iPod, iPad, and iPhone.)
I’ve translated the letter below (warning: business speak is not my forte so if I mistranslated something, please help me out in comments — Chinese version is after the jump):
A Letter to Foxconn Colleagues
Dear Colleagues:
We enthusiastically welcome you to the Foxconn Technology Co. family!
To wish you happiness in crossing this career milestone into a great stage in your life, Foxconn has provided you with this: A workplace environment that will help you gain experience and wisdom; complete living facilities; various entertainment venues, learning and sports facilities, and activities; as well as a service staff that will help resolve difficulties.
Please know:
1. If you or your colleagues come across frustrations, grievances, embarrassments in your work, daily activities, schooling, feelings, family life, or health, you can ask for help by calling our “Worker Care Center” hotline: 78585 (phonetically it sounds like “Please help me, help me”). The company will arrange a professional to help you or your colleague solve your problems. If your reports on your colleagues helps prevent an accident, the company will provide an adequate reward.
2. If you have other non-urgent problems, you can also contact the Complaints hotline: 15000, trade union hotline: 81111, employee suggestion box, and the trade union mailbox to make a report. The company will also dispatch a professional to solve the issue.
At the same time, please understand:
1. The company respects operational and management law, and respects and cares about the staff.
2. The way the company deals with employee accidents is based in national law and is in accordance with regulations, as well as the principles of the corporation and humane care. As for the accidents to employees (including suicide, self-mutilation, etc.), the company cannot pay more than what is regulated, but will actively cooperate with government departments according to the laws of compensation and will work out a reasonable pension.
The company is attaching importance to prevention programs, and will continue their expansion. As a reminder, the company has especially drafted this letter for you to sign.
Finally, wish you a smooth career and happy life with the Foxconn family!
Foxconn Technology Co.
May 2010
I am aware of the contents of the open letter as well as the variety of services and care the company is providing. I promise the following:
1. If I encounter problems and difficulties after entering the company, I will ask for help from the “Employee Care Center” and other related departments.
2. In terms of my own responsibilities, if I have great difficulties or frustrations I will reach out to relatives to resolve them or report them to the company director, I will also agree to contact and communicate with colleagues, personal staff and relatives. However, I will not harm myself or others; I agree that, in order for the company to protect me and others, it can send me to a hospital should I exhibit abnormal physical or mental problems.
3. In the event of non-accidental injuries (including suicide, self mutilation, etc.), I agree that the company has acted properly in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and will not sue the company, bring excessive demands, take drastic actions that would damage the company’s reputation or cause trouble that would hurt normal operations.
I confirm that I have read and am aware of these issues
________________ (signature)
Employee number:
Residence number:
Date:
Chinese version:
致富士康同仁的一封信（5月25日下午要求员工签署）
致富士康同仁的一封信
亲爱的同仁：
热忱欢迎您加入富士康科技集团大家庭！
作为您美满职涯的新里程以及快乐人生的大舞台，富士康将为您提供：可发挥经验与智慧的职业舞台和劳动环境，完备的生活设施，学习与娱乐所需的各类文体场地、设施、活动等，以及解决员工实际困难的关爱服务。
请您务必知悉：
1、一旦您或您周边的同仁在工作、生活、学习、情感、家庭、身体等方面遇上了烦恼、挫折、委屈、困窘，您可以求助于或通报集团公司的“员工关爱中心”热线78585（请帮我帮我），公司将安排专人为您或同仁排忧解难。对于您提供的信息防止了其他同仁之意外事件发生，公司将给予适当奖励：
2、若您由其它非紧急的问题，也可以通过集团投诉中心热线15000、工会维权热线81111及总裁信箱、员工意见箱、工会信箱等管道进行反映，公司也将安排专人进行处理。
同时，请您务必理解：
1、公司诚信守法经营和管理，并尊重和关怀员工
2、基于国家法律、集团制度和人道关怀之原则，集团对员工意外事件的处理均依法依规进行，对员工意外事件(含自杀、自残等)，公司将不支付法律、法规规定之外的赔付项目，但定会积极配合政府部门进行依法补偿，并进行合理抚恤工作。
公司对员工的关爱将以预防为主，不断扩大投入。为了提醒您，集团特致本公开信并由您签署确认本文件。
最后，祝您在富士康大家庭里工作顺利、生活愉快！
富士康科技集团
2010年5月
本人已知悉上述公开信之内容及集团公司在员工关怀上所提供的各种服务和帮助，了解各种救助途径和方式，本人承诺如下：
1、在公司今后的工作和生活中若遇有问题和困难，定会及时向“员工关爱中心”等相关部门进行反映或求助，以得到帮助和解决；
2、对自己的行为负责，遇到较大困难或挫折会及时联系亲属排解，或向公司主管反映，亦同意由公司同仁或人资人员与亲属取得联络和沟通，但绝不以极端方式伤害自己或他人；同意公司基于保护本人或他人健康的目的，在本人身体或精神出现异常情况下将本人送医治疗；
3若发生非公司责任原因导致的意外伤亡事件（含自杀、自残等），同意公司按相关法律、法规进行处理，本人或家属绝不向公司提出法律、法规规定之外过当诉求，绝不采取过激行为导致公司名誉受损或给公司正常生产营业秩序造成困扰。
以上事项本人已知悉并确认
——————（签名）
工号：
身份证号：
日期： 年 月 日
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