Tim Cook’s Dark Legacy in China

Tim Cook's tenure as Apple's CEO in China has left a lasting legacy, both good and bad. As he prepares to step down on September 1, 2026, Cook will hand over a highly efficient manufacturing system he helped build. However, the system has resulted in workers enduring long hours, often working 60 hours a week or more, without a rest day and depending on overtime to cover basic living costs.

The current CEO, John Ternus, will need to address these labor conditions under the existing production model. Investigations by China Labor Watch reveal that Apple's compliance system fails to prevent violations, as the labor conditions are deeply embedded in the production model itself. Workers question the effectiveness of Western countries' human rights standards when faced with the machine-like pace of Apple's production lines and uncertain pay.

The situation in China arose from a trade-off: China provided foreign capital, technology, and jobs, while Western firms received cheap labor and speed through long overtime and extreme scheduling flexibility. Apple has treated allegations of wrongdoing as a compliance issue rather than recognizing the production model's role in creating these conditions.

Apple's response has focused on policing labor through a Supplier Code of Conduct, audits, and worker training, which can address individual violations but fails to address the underlying problems. Despite the high costs of meeting labor standards, Apple can afford to pay more, as raising wages for workers would only cost a small fraction of its annual net income.

The contradiction between Apple's promotion of labor rights and its treatment of Chinese workers highlights a disconnect that erodes the labor and human rights standards it claims to uphold. As Ternus takes over, he will inherit the manufacturing system Cook built and the responsibility for addressing the unpaid debt to the workers who power it.