Apple

• Apple started business


  1976
• Since 2000 Apple started showing phenomenal growth
• Apple


  • Second largest IT company by revenue
  • Third largest mobile phone manufacturer
  • Largest music retailer
  • Number one global brand by value ($145 billion)
  • 98,000 employees
  • 450 retail stores in 16 countries
  • Total assets of $207 billion
• Foxconn city is a business park with brands such as Sony, Dell and is dubbed China's silicon valley
• Ireland


  Apple offshored to Ireland due to the 12.5% corporation tax, the second lowest in the EU
• Ireland


  • 4,000 workers, 2,500 jobs
  • Attracted other high-tech firms
  • Highly skilled workforce - education, research and development
  • Contributed to infrastructural improvements
  • More diverse city
  • Highly skilled workers are foreign nationals so Apple is accused of not creating sufficient work for locals
• Apple has been accused of corporate tax avoidance


  So they can use firms in other countries to pay a lower rate of tax
• Apple has received favourable tax from the Irish government


  Which created tension with the EU
• 200,000 workers in a Shenzhen factory were working more than 60 hours a week for only $100 a month - enforced overtime
• 50 workers in Suzhou were poisoned by a toxic chemical used to clean ipad screens