Company claims most workers doing less than 60 hours per week

Apple CEO Tim Cook is included on Time's Person of the Year shortlist, the magazine has announced. The winner of the title will be revealed tomorrow. Cook faces some stiff competition though, including US President Barack Obama, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, and the scientists who detected the Higgs boson particle. Cook's predecessor, Steve Jobs, was a staple of Time lists.

Apple itself has meanwhile updated its supplier responsibility report with new claims. "Going deep into our supply chain, we now follow weekly supplier data for over 1,000,000 workers," text on the webpage reads. "In November 88 percent of workweeks were less than the 60-hour maximum specified in Apple’s code of conduct. In limited peak periods, we allow work beyond the 60 hour limit for those employees that volunteer to do so."

A common complaint from workers' rights groups is that suppliers will demand extreme overtime to meet Apple orders, especially those right before major product launches. And while overtime may not be mandatory, workers can feel pressured to accept it by bosses or the need for a livable wage.

by MacNN Staff