Apple has said it is "evaluating" the steps its manufacturing partner, Foxconn, has been taking to address nine of its workers committing suicide.

Foxconn supplies Apple with iPods, iPads and iPhones. It also manufactures equipment for other big technology vendors, such as HP and Dell.

According to reports from an undercover journalist for the Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly, employees at the factory are working under terrible conditions.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling told Bloomberg that the company has been in contact with Foxconn senior management and is "saddened and upset by the recent suicides at Foxconn".

"We believe they are taking this matter very seriously," he said.

"A team from Apple is independently evaluating the steps they are taking to address these tragic events and we will continue our ongoing inspections of the facilities where our products are made."

Meanwhile, HP told Bloomberg it is currently investigating whether Foxconn's practices caused the deaths.

26 May 2010