Apple pulls Sweatshop game from App store

The controversial game Sweatshop can no longer be found in Apple’s App Store after it was pulled earlier this week.

By Adrian Collins

Apple are one of a number of companies who have come under fire for the conditions of the workers in the plants where their products are made.

Samsung, LG, and many of the main electronics manufacturers in the world have also had this problem, but as possibly the most high profile name, Apple has come under some of the fiercest criticism.

Most of the troubles have been linked to the Foxconn plants in China, where workers are apparently made to work 16-hour days and go on long stints without days off, so it should come as no surprise that Apple have decided to pull the controversial game called Sweatshop from their App store.

The game allows players to take control of a manufacturing line in factory, where they make workers produce clothing and other retail goods for high street shops, and they fail if they can’t get the work done quick enough.

Game developers Littleloud argue that the game, rather than promoting or making light of the situation, helps make users aware of the conditions in the factories in a very interactive way, and to force Apple to tackle the taboo of sweatshop use throughout their industry and beyond.

That excuse wasn’t good enough for Apple, however, who felt that the game violated their policy, and given that they keep a very tight control on their products it’s unlikely to be making its way back into the store any time soon.

The game can still be found online and in the Android store, who don’t keep as close an eye on their developers.