“I compared Apple with other cell phone companies, such as Nokia, and the conditions in those factories are worse than the ones of Apple.”

In fact, Foxconn, which has taken a public relations beating over a rash of worker suicides and recent explosions that killed four employees and injured another 77, is reportedly one of the better places to work. According to China Labor Watch interviews, workers reported receiving health and safety training, noted that equipment was regularly inspected for safety, and said a workers’ trade union and hotline was available to report problems.

“Foxconn is not good,” Li told NYT. “But if we compare all industries, electronics, textile, toys, Foxconn is one of the best.”

Foxconn also pays its factory workers nearly 20 percent more than the national average wages, and in some cases nearly double the local average, according to journalist Peter Nowak. Salaries are around just $420 month—a far cry from what we expect in America, but far more than those living in China’s poverty-stricken rural areas could ever hope to earn.

Labor group: Apple has comparatively decent record in China, but could do more