[a3n]

But Apple, or any other similar multinational, claims no responsibility for any abuse of workers or economic laws, because it's not them it's Foxconn. The same as their explicit statements in the article, and the article's emphasis, that all these dealings are with partner companies. It allows Apple et. al to stay at least one remove from abuse, bribery, corruption, pollution, etc.

It's the same when companies hire contracting agencies to run their warehouse operations. It's not Amazon's policies, it's the staffing/contracting/warehousing agency, who run operations according to Amazon's rules and just get it done, however they will. "Now be sure you don't abuse your workers while keeping to schedule and standards, wink wink."

Or when ag companies buy tomatoes, for example, from Mexico, where the tomatoes are grown in healthier conditions than the workers live. Occasionally the abuse of these ag workers will surface, and companies like Walmart will point to yet other third party companies that they outsource compliance and certification to. "Our compliance partner has made a complaint to our ag partners, and it's all good."