Apple breaches labour rights at Chinese iPhone manufacturing factory

China Labour Watch has reportedly claimed that Apple's factory in the country has breached labour rights by illegally producing the 'low-cost' iPhone.

The non-profit organization has claimed that the cheaper iPhone 5C, speculated to be released next week, is being produced under illegal and abusive conditions at Apple's Chinese factories.

According to the Guardian, the claims indicate that the factory workers are made to stand for 12-hour shifts with just two 30-minute breaks, six days a week.

The claims also suggest that the employees at Apple's plant in Wuxi, work without adequate protective equipment from chemicals, noise and lasers, for an average of 69 hours a week while the company's self-imposed limit is that of 60 working hours a week.

The Wuxi plant is owned by Florida-based Jabil Circuit, who said that it had uncovered problems last month and was taking immediate steps to investigate the allegations.

The report said that investigations have revealed that female workers at the plant were asked to take pregnancy tests, which would be both against Chinese law and a breach of the code of practice imposed last year by Apple on all its suppliers.

Meanwhile, Apple said that its experts were already on site to look into the claims adding that it was committed to providing safe and fair working conditions, the report added.