No contract renewals for ill Apple workers

Workers who suffered chemical poisoning at one of Apple’s (AAPL.NASDAQ) supplier factories in Suzhou are now facing a new challenge, as the company refuses to renew their work contracts, state media reported. About 100 victims have already left the Taiwan-based Wintek Corp factory in Suzhou – which manufactures iPhone components – after signing exemption agreements and receiving compensation of US$12,168-21,294. However, some employees have continued working in hopes that the company would cover medical bills if their health deteriorates further. Following exposure to n-hexane, a chemical cleaning agent that was used for about one year to speed up production of touch screens, 137 workers at the Suzhou facility suffered health problems. Since July 2009, the company has reverted to using alcohol in place of n-hexane.