International Trade: A Case Study of Apple, Foxconn, and Ethics

This case study delves into the legal and ethical considerations surrounding Apple's relationship with its supplier Foxconn, particularly focusing on alleged human rights violations and the reconciliation of differing legal and ethical standards. It compares Apple's ethical framework with Foxconn's practices, highlighting instances where labor rights were reportedly violated, leading to scrutiny and legal challenges. The analysis extends to the application of ethical and legal standards in different countries, emphasizing the importance of adapting to local legal frameworks while upholding human rights. The study concludes that adherence to ethical policies and frameworks is crucial for organizations like Apple to navigate international trade complexities, maintain accountability, and ensure a safe and peaceful working environment, ultimately fostering growth and mitigating potential legal and ethical pitfalls. Desklib provides solved assignments and past papers for students.

Business Legal Frameworks
International trade
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS.............................................................................2
ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS..............................................................................4
ETHICAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS.......................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Legal framework refers a set of documents that include regulations, constitutions legislation and
contracts. While dealing with a business environment it is necessary to focus on the legal
frameworks that are constitutional policy for companies in order to move ahead in terms of
regulations and contracts. A legal framework will also affect the choice of companies in order to
make sure that its prominence in the market is thoroughly maintained (Dzwigol, Dzwigol-Barosz
& Kwilinski, (2020)). A legal framework is nothing but the recipient law and decrees that will
help to bring about the circumstances of establishment as well as the particular enforcement that
is oriented with the organization. There are a set of specific policies of countries that will have to
be followed relevant to embodiment. This will help the governance to move ahead on free terms
and there will not be any external factors that are influencing the organization as well as its
particular commercial decisions. This entire report will focus upon the legal framework as well
as the business environment as directed to Apple Company. Company Apple is known for its
best reputation and the manufacturing of products and the law that is applicable to bring about all
the considerations are confidential and unique.
LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Apple company is known to be one of the reputed of all times because it is regarded to be one of
the organizations that are widely dealing with a variety of international suppliers. There are
certain manufacturing units, dealt by Apple Company and is also known to be one of those
organizations that is eventually dealing with all the external factors like economic, political
social and legal. While operating in another country there are certain guidelines as well as rules
and regulations that have to be mentioned and will have to be followed (Rights & Intelligence).
Apple Company will have to deal with a complex international supply chain management that
will make them corporate and social responsible. Most of the company's legal rights are
eventually being dealt by the elaborating issue where it is violating at instances. It has got its
manufacturing plants at Foxconn and Pegatron. Foxconn Company is dealing with certain
violations that are turning out to be the biggest out of all types. Foxconn is known to be the
oldest as well as the biggest supplier for the company and it is also occupying 40% of the
revenue. It is also known to be one of the biggest privately owned in Taiwan and is also holding
a very good revenue during the year 2013. It has faced some lawsuits and legal challenges with
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respect to its supplier the labour as well as the rules and regulations that are in regard to labour
rights are being violated and many of the employees at speaking ill about the practices that are
being tackled by the organization. It has become one of those companies that were being
questioned on a regular term because of its actions that are belonging to Foxconn. There are no
skilled workers as well as a healthy working atmosphere in this particular supplier branch and
therefore the engagement with workers is not going on a right term. It was blamed by some of its
workers and it was published in news that 14 workers who were working in this particular
organisation died during manufacturing facilities (Hamilton & Webster, (2018)). There is lack of
motivation as leaders do not motivate employees as well as the workers which made things go.
There are no proper opportunities that are provided to employees and therefore they couldn't
maintain their work-life balance in the organization. While considering the ethical policies,
Foxconn is regarded to be one of those branches where the legal rights are being violated in
terms of employee’s wellbeing. Workers have to work for longer hours and it exceeds their
working hours and it led to violating the legislation that is in terms of its operation. As an effect
of this particular organization there has been a working environment that is a disastrous one.
While comparing Apple Company, there are number of legal Frameworks that needs to be
followed as and when compared to the ethical conduct of Foxconn. All the complexities as well
as employees’ management is properly dealt with ethical guidelines in Apple Company and that
led to important activities to arise (Long and et. al., (2018)). As a result, there has been an
extensive as well as a rigorous Framework that is being partnered with other suppliers that would
increase their possibility of manufacturing units. There is an ethical consideration with respect to
stakeholders as well as customers that are partnered with Apple company by maintaining a
proper and healthy relationship. This gives ample opportunities to employees for their growth
and that has also been one of the prominent and spectacular entity that is contributing the growth
of the organization.
ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Upon considering all the factors where there is an irresponsible orientation in regard to the
organizational orientation is being determined it can be stated that there is a violation of certain
activities that are taking place in regard to labour act. Based on the true outputs that are
generated as well as the results that are oriented in regard to organizational legal framework it
can be stated that there is a lack of human resources and they are less likely to abide rules and
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regulations. In this regard, it can be said that there is violation of human rights that took place
because when human rights are properly oriented in the organization it would easily manage the
employee safety as well as the consideration that are a part of organizational framework. A
company when dealing with certain activities it is first essential that the external factors that are
the legal factors will have to be operated on a special note. This is because without proper legal
factors the organization cannot move ahead in terms of attaining a growth prospect. The law in
this will apply based on violation of legal policies that are oriented with the PESTLE factors of
organization. The death of certain employees based on the pressure that is exerted by the
organization is one of the policies that has resulted violation of human rights. This is because
there have been certain issues that are portrayed within organization and its malfunction by not
maintaining employee safety and is also not considering their right towards work prospect
(Mattoo & Meltzer, (2018)). This is a considerable tactic that will have to be taken into account
because it has a lot more to do with the proper initiation into the growth of the company. When
the organizational workplace is not maintained over a proper basis then the organization is for
sure lacking with human rights as well as there are no management criteria. The human rights in
the organization will have to be such that there is a hierarchy of needs that are as prescribed by
Moslows' theory which countries of the pyramid of needs that need to be initiated with respect to
the physical as well as physiological or safety that is being oriented. When this is being a
diminished with respect to organisational performance and that is a considerable criterion and the
legal rights will fall apart and organizational operations.
ETHICAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS
Ethical factors of the considerable aspects for any Organisation are the one that enables them that
the business environment is maintained over a standard basis that will help behaviour of the
company to not get ruined by the external factors that are incorporated by the country (Nathaniel,
Murshed & Bassim, (2021)). In this regard it is a yes in order to apply different ethical and legal
standards in different countries in regard to Apple because there can be a probability where it can
cut the cost that is oriented with its transactions. The organisation will have to move ahead in
corresponding with the ethical standards of various countries because without a proper
correspondence it will not be able to deal with its managerial actions. In this regard an
application of ethical consideration will also have to deal with human rights where the workforce
is being treated on a better not and the legal terms cannot be violated. Ethics in business is as
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important as any other embodiment because it is not until when company’s behaviour is
maintained over a standard basis that the employees in the organisation will not be able to get
retained. There are certain adapting standards that will have to be followed by the organisation
because different countries will operate with different legal frameworks and it is necessary that
Apple need to co-ordinate with every rule and regulation that is in the constitutional prospect of
the country (Ogidan, (2021)). This will help to maintain a safe and a peaceful working
atmosphere and its standard will nowhere boo diminished. The procedures that are put forth in
regard to its operational standards will also have to deal with the human rights and also the
wrongs that are oriented in the organisational performance. An action will have to be taken if at
all the organisation is not moving ahead in terms of legal and ethical considerations (Pastor and
et. al., (2019)). When it is legal but not ethical then there will have to be a proper orientation that
will have to be put forth because this will not be the required culture that is necessary for
organization. Following ethical principles can maintain an accountability that is necessary for
organization with the main aim of tackling with the country as well as its standard. It will set a
pace for the company and the Framework will also unable to move ahead with its interventions
and therefore Apple will have to keep a check over it ethical consideration and will have to apply
it for its organizational performance. By maintaining ethics as well as the possible measures the
organization can stay abided by the law enforcement that is oriented with the company's policies
and there will not be any mistakes that will take place. It will bind the organisation to policies
that will help to maintain a peaceful consideration with respect to work for and work-force
(Roberts (2018)). The external factors that are operating in terms of the organization will not let
the organization to move ahead in terms of development. For this the ethical considerations will
help the organisation with the main aim of maintaining its space and it will also not be able to go
out of orientation. The ethics are necessary for the country in order to make sure that the
profitable standard will also be oriented with a spectacular approach and therefore including
them in organizational orientation will be like attaining growth prospects within no time.
Organization apple in this regard has been through certain extravagant situations where there is
certain legal Framework that has been violated. By getting abided to ethical policies and
Framework these negotiations can be overcome and it can also be essential in dealing with the
future terms in organizational processes (Zhao, Zhang & Kwon, (2018)).
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CONCLUSION
It has been concluded that the aspects of legal framework as well as business orientation plays a
vital role. A critical reflection is brought forth in respect to a case study that is being provided
and evidence that is brought forth in regard to the organization as well as its practices. The report
has compared between the legal and ethical considerations that are oriented with the
organisation. There are certain factors that are reconciled in order to make sure that the
responsible human rights violations are allegedly brought forth with respect to the law
enforcement. There is a reasonable orientation with respect to ethical and legal standard with
respect to the organisation in terms of countries evolution. The report concludes upon
highlighting and assessment towards how far the organisation is being able to tackle with all
these ethical considerations a midst of all the legal enforcement that are brought forth and the
application of law in terms of managerial actions.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Dzwigol, H., Dzwigol-Barosz, M., & Kwilinski, A. (2020). Formation of global competitive
enterprise environment based on industry 4.0 concept. International Journal of
Entrepreneurship, 24(1), 1-5.
Hamilton, L., & Webster, P. (2018). The international business environment. Oxford University
Press.
Long, R., and et. al., (2018). Embodied carbon dioxide flow in international trade: A
comparative analysis based on China and Japan. Journal of environmental
management, 209, 371-381.
Mattoo, A., & Meltzer, J. P. (2018). International data flows and privacy: The conflict and its
resolution. Journal of International Economic Law, 21(4), 769-789.
Nathaniel, S. P., Murshed, M., & Bassim, M. (2021). The nexus between economic growth,
energy use, international trade and ecological footprints: the role of environmental
regulations in N11 countries. Energy, Ecology and Environment, 6(6), 496-512.
Ogidan, R. (2021). Taxation of the Digital Economy in Nigeria–Analysis of the Policy, Legal &
Administrative Dimensions. Legal & Administrative Dimensions (September 7, 2021).
Pastor, A. V., and et. al., (2019). The global nexus of food–trade–water sustaining environmental
flows by 2050. Nature Sustainability, 2(6), 499-507.
Roberts, J. (2018). Multinational business service firms: The development of multinational
organisational structures in the UK business services sector. Routledge.
Zhao, H., Zhang, F., & Kwon, J. (2018). Corporate social responsibility research in international
business journals: An author co-citation analysis. International Business Review, 27(2),
389-400.
Online
Importance of legal framework, (2018): [Online]. Available through: < The importance of legal
and regulatory frameworks (crvsgateway.info)>
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