It's reported that Apple's usual product manufacturer, Foxconn, has lost the contract for production of the next iPad.
Taiwan Economic News quotes "industry sources" saying the order will instead go to Pegatron, a subsidiary of the giant Asus electronics company.
Earlier this month, Pegatron, which has 81,000 employees in China, snatched a contract to manufacture 15-million next-generation iPhones.
There's been widespread criticism of working conditions at Foxconn's plants in China after a spate of worker suicides. Earlier this year, two workers died in an explosion at the Foxconn plant manufacturing the iPad 2.
Pegatron boasts a policy of "corporate social responsibility" which, it says, guarantees safe working conditions and "respect and dignity to employees".
It's not known if Apple's decision to apparently switch manufacturers is for economic reasons or because of bad publicity surrounding Foxconn.
(Source: Taiwan Economic News)
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