WASHINGTON – Apple today said it would ask a non-profit labor rights organization, to investigate its supplier’s factories, including Foxconn, and would publish which factories were investigated in subsequent reports.

The decision follows a global petition that garnered more than 250,000 signatures around the world late last week. The petition calls on Apple to investigate its supply factories and commit to a comprehensive worker protection plan. In response, Apple has asked the Fair Labor Association to look into the factories.

Apple has not yet responded to the second request in the campaign, that the company create a worker protection strategy for new product releases.

Consumer advocates are planning additional activities in the coming weeks to push Apple to commit to a worker protection plan.

HONG KONG -- SMT Holdings Ltd. reported a sharp decrease in fiscal third-quarter revenue as downsizing took its toll on the contract electronics assembly company.

SUZHOU -- An official investigation has found at least 10 underage workers at a local electronics factory, the China Daily is reporting.

SHENZHEN -- A pair of Nam Tai Electronics expansion projects continue to be delayed due to government foot-dragging and a dispute over land rights.