Chengdu , China ( CNN ) -- Miss Chen stares curiously at the iPad . Even though she works overtime in a factory in southwestern China that manufactures them , she 's never seen the finished product . `` Wow , I want it , '' said Chen , brushing her finger across the glossy screen with curiosity and amazement . The 18-year-old student from a village outside of the southern megacity of Chongqing is one of more than one million factory workers at a Chinese company that helps manufacture products for Apple Inc. 's lucrative global empire , which raked in a record $ 46.3 billion in sales last quarter . At a factory about an hour west of Sichuan 's capital Chengdu , Foxconn Technology Group , one of Apple 's biggest manufacturing partners . Foxconn employs hundreds of thousands who work day or night shifts , eating and sleeping at company facilities , as they help build electronics products for Apple and many other global brand names , such as Amazon 's Kindle and Microsoft 's Xbox . Chen 's name has been changed for this story . She told CNN that all her Foxconn colleagues have been instructed not to talk to any reporter or `` criminal liability shall be investigated according to law . '' Rights groups like Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin and Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior say that Foxconn 's stringent military-like culture is one of surveillance , obedience and not challenging authority . Workers are told obey or leave . It 's an oppressive culture that labor groups say contributed to a slew of suicides in 2010 at the company 's Shenzhen plant -- prompting Foxconn to install nets in an effort to prevent employees from jumping . As a poor college student with no work experience , looking for job in China 's competitive market is an uphill battle . So when Chen was offered a one-month position at Foxconn during the Spring Festival -- with promises of great benefits and little overtime , she jumped at the chance . Her heart fell after arriving at the Foxconn factory , when she found out only senior employees get such benefits and sick leaves . Ms. Chen said she 's also forced to work overtime on a regular basis . `` During my first day of work , an older worker said to me , 'why did you come to Foxconn ? Do n't ever think about it again and leave right now ' , '' said Chen , who plans to return to her studies at a Chongqing university soon . `` Foxconn employees have a saying , `` they use women as men and men as machines . '' Foxconn is a part of Taiwan 's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. which supplies iPads and iPhones . Foxconn recently released a statement defending its corporate practices , stating its employees are entitled to numerous benefits including access to health care and opportunities for promotions and training . `` Foxconn takes our responsibility to our employees very seriously and we work hard to give our 1.2 million employees in China a safe and positive working environment and compensation and benefits that are competitive with all of our industry peers in that location , '' said Foxconn in an email statement to CNN . In response to questions from CNN , Apple released this statement : `` We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain . We insist that our suppliers provide safe working conditions , treat workers with dignity and respect , and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made . Our suppliers must live up to these requirements if they want to keep doing business with Apple . '' Apple officials also noted last month it became the first company admitted to the Fair Labor Association , `` a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving conditions for workers around the world . '' In an email to Apple employees , CEO Tim Cook said the company cares about every worker and `` any accident is deeply troubling , and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern . '' Despite widespread reports of poor working conditions , some experts say Foxconn factories still offer better benefits and surroundings than most factories in China -- providing air conditioning , heating and clean dorms for its employees . `` These companies are making huge profits but workers feel that they are not getting a fair share , '' said Geoffrey Crothall of China Labour Bulletin . `` But just because Apple is making a profit does n't mean they are passing that onto Foxconn ; the margins are slim . '' Crothall said it 's important to empower workers . But it 's also a challenge for Apple to find a manufacturer that delivers the quality and speed Foxconn can with its vast resources , he added . After three weeks of applying more than 4,000 stickers a day onto iPad screens by hand and working 60 hours a week in an assembly line , Chen says she 's ready to go back to school and study hard so she 'll never have to return to Foxconn . `` It 's so boring , I ca n't bear it anymore . Everyday is like : I get off from work and I go to bed . I get up in the morning , and I go to work . It is my daily routine and I almost feel like an animal , '' said Ms. Chen , who aspires to become a biologist . When asked why humans do machine-like work at Foxconn , she responds , `` Well , humans are cheaper . ''
Rights groups accuse Foxconn , maker of Apple products , of a 'military like culture ' Foxconn says it takes responsibility for 1.2 million Chinese workers 'very seriously ' Apple : ' e are committed to working with the government and other stakeholders on issues related to human rights in China. "