Factory workers forced to pledge not to commit suicide

Factories making Apple iPhones and iPads forced staff to sign pledges not to commit suicide before they were taken on. At least 14 workers at Apple's Chinese supplier Foxconn have killed themselves in 16 months.

And more have either survived suicide bids or were stopped from trying at plants in Chengdu and Shenzhen.



In the aftermath of the tragedies, staff seeking jobs at the giant factories were ordered to make written promises not to follow suit.

They even had to vow that if they did, their families would not claim more than the legal minimum in damages. One executive accused victims of committing suicide to win compensation payouts for relatives.