Apple Supplier Pays Poisoned Workers

HTC, which owns factories in each China's Suzhou industrial park, said it has set aside a combined 10 million yuan, or about $1.5 million, to compensate workers who were affected by hexyl hydride, also known as n-hexane, a fast-drying agent used to clean displays.

The factory workers became ill in 2009 after being exposed to the substance, which caused pain and numbness, prompting employees to write to Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs for help in paying their medical bills.

Wintek, which no longer uses the chemical, said nearly all of the affected workers have since recovered, with only one employee still visiting a clinic for regular check-ups. Chinese authorities also determined that 22 claims were ineligible for compensation, due to minor symptoms that didn't require treatment.

"We are willing to communicate with the affected workers to listen to their needs. But we won't make compensation in addition to the payment required by labor law easily", said Jay Huang, Wintek's chief financial officer. "If they feel they need more compensation to be satisfied, then we're willing to discuss it case by case".

Out of the 137 poisoned employees, 56 still work at the company. The rest have left, Huang said.

Apple revealed the issue in its annual suppliers' audit, shedding light on the health and safety hazards of key suppliers of iPhone and iPad devices. Apple, which outsources its manufacturing process, depends heavily on its partners throughout Asia.

Last year, Foxconn, another major China supplier, was hit by a series of suicides that critics blamed on poor working conditions.