[citation][nom]mrmaia[/nom]It seems like you don't have even the slightest clue of how market works. To keep things simple to you, I'll simulate a dialogue between an Apple and a Foxconn directors:
A: You're charging me $50 for each iPad... and shipping only 50,000 of them a month! This is absurd, our margin will fall considerably like that.
F: Sorry, that's the most we can do.
A: So I'm afraid Apple will have to find another supplier.
F: No, we need your money. What do you want from us?
A: We want each iPad at $10 and 200,000 a month.
F: WHAT? It's impossible, we don't even have workforce for that.
A: I don't care, make it happen in a week or we're gone.
F: How do you think we are going to implement such a radical change?
A: Make your employees work, I don't care if they work 24 hours a day, nor for what they earn, nor for what their life quality... damn, not even for their life, they're expendable. I don't care for them, I care for our margins. Now you better start making those equipments, son.
Got it?[/citation]
Actually, it's not at all like that. The NYT article points that it's actually the other way around. Chinese factories are willing to sell the soul of their workers to get a contract with major players.
In you same example, it went something like this:
A: Ok, let's see if US factories can keep up!
(...)
A: No, they would have it at an enormous extra cost and many months behind schedule. Let's look for something else.
F: Oh, hello! We are already building the extra factory you guys need and getting more workers for it! Also, don't forget it's dirt cheap your you. Here are some already finished products for you to look at.
A: And you'll even make it on time while being cheaper? Darn... That sounds like profit! Can you make official statements about your workers being happy and all? We don't want bad press.
F: Sure thing! The Government backs us up, so no sweat! These animals are easy to replace anyway.
Now, that's more like it. And don't forget you can replace "Apple" with any other big tech company.
Cheers!