Apple improvements in China said ahead of schedule

(AP) WASHINGTON - The labor group hired by Apple (AAPL) to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China says the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule.

The Fair Labor Association said Tuesday that Apple Inc.'s largest supplier, Foxconn, had completed all 195 improvements to working conditions that were due by the end of May. Foxconn also completed 89 of the 165 improvements due by next July.

Among the changes, Foxconn reduced work hours to 60 hours per week.

Apple said in March that 11 percent of workers across its entire supply chain worked more than 60 hours a week. That fell to 3 percent in July.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said in a statement that the company is "proud of the progress we are making together."

Did Apple really create half a million jobs?
Illegal overtime reported on Apple assembly line
Apple becomes most valuable company in history