Apple "bows" and allows employees to discuss wages; the US may usher in a wave of semiconductor companies building factories

According to foreign media reports, after several months of internal salary disputes, Apple recently officially announced that its employees have the right to discuss working conditions and salaries.

根据这份内部备忘录，苹果公司对员工表示，他们有权在外部讨论他们的工资并表达他们的担忧，这对这家以保密著称的科技巨头来说是一个重大转变。该备忘录发布在苹果公司的内网上，美国的80000名员工均可以访问。

In 2016, Apple said it had achieved equal pay for its employees, saying that "for every dollar a man makes, a woman makes a dollar; for every dollar a white employee makes, a minority makes a dollar."

Apple's diversity and inclusion page states that "globally, employees of all genders are paid the same for similar work, comparable experience, and performance." But employees conducting informal salary surveys have uncovered possible wage gaps, and several informal salary surveys have been terminated this year.

Obviously, Apple's claim of achieving equal pay for equal work is a beautiful lie told to investors and internal employees. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many employees expressing doubts and conducting private investigations. Now that employees can discuss with each other, Apple's salaries can become more transparent. For most Apple employees, this is obviously a good thing.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo reported on November 22 that Samsung Electronics may release a new wafer foundry investment plan in the United States this week, with an investment amount of US$17 billion.

Samsung Electronics revealed that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently met with the White House and members of Congress to discuss semiconductor supply chain issues. Lee Jae-yong said that Samsung invested in a new chip factory in the United States, and he also met with core members of the Semiconductor Investment Tax Credit Bill Promotion Committee to assist in the passage of the bill.

Sources pointed out that "Samsung will announce its investment plan in the United States as early as the 22nd or 23rd." The industry believes that the location of the new factory is likely to be Tyler, Texas. It is about 40 minutes away from Austin, Texas, where Samsung's current electronics factory is located. Tyler recently voted to approve an investment incentive plan that would reduce taxes by $292 million.

It is very rare in recent years that senior White House officials have individually invited representatives of foreign companies to meet with them. This is enough to show the importance the US government currently attaches to the semiconductor industry. Coupled with the US Department of Commerce's previous collection of semiconductor market information, it may invite a large number of semiconductor manufacturers to set up factories in the United States in the near future to promote a new round of US economic revival.