Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Another young worker committed suicide at Foxconn in Shenzhen, just hours after the owner of the company, Terry Guo, had brought 200 journalists to visit the companies workplace and recreational facilities.  In one year there have been 10 suicides in the firm, three this week.  Unconfirmed reports talk of a suicide attempt by a girl this morning. The factory – in a small town that also houses dormitories, canteens and sports facilities - employs more than 400 000 people and serves well-known brands like Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard. It is here that the famous Apple iPhone and iPad are produced.

The families of the young suicide victims - all young people around 20 – hold working conditions in the factory responsible: long working hours, compulsory overtime, nearly obligatory silence among colleagues a military-like control of production.

To stem criticism – which is also having economic consequences - Guo, a Taiwanese billionaire, brought 200 journalists on a visit of the plant in Longhua (Shenzhen), demonstrating the working rooms, the Olympic swimming pools, recreation facilities.  But the workers claim that the overly long working hours and intense pressure means nobody has time to go for a swim. Furthermore, young people who work there, try to earn as much as possible to send money to their families accepting a pay of 900 Yuan per month (around 90 Euros), the minimum rate set by the Shenzhen authorities.

Speaking to reporters, Guo pointed out that the root causes of suicide are social problems in China coupled with some personal problems. He has launched a "hotline", an anti-stress centre , employed psychiatrists and Buddhist monks and set up a security nets around buildings to deter people from committing suicide. He also promised to withdraw a letter of agreement that employees must sign in which they accept to kill tyhemselves outside of factory grounds and allow the company to have those who shows signs of instability interned in residential (psychiatric) care.

Chang Ping, a journalist from Guangdong, noted that workers possible mental disorders are linked to the fact that "the civil rights of a class [migrant workers-ed] have been forgotten by our society and they do not know where go to express their problems when they arise".

Indeed, the Foxconn situation does not seem any worse than other Chinese companies. The problem is the work system in factories in China, which exploits immigrants - without giving them residence in the city - and forces them to work long hours for a minimum wage. In addition, state unions often come to the employers defence in workers issues. The public authorities also prefer to turn a blind eye to the exploitation, eager to increase the wealth of the city. According to data published by local newspapers, Foxconn pays Shenzhen Treasury at least 10 billion Yuan (1.1 billion Euro) each year in.