Microsoft Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co. may face greaterscrutiny of their labor practices as Apple Inc.'s biggest supplierimproves conditions at its Chinese plants after protests by rightsactivists.

Foxconn Technology Group, the world's biggest assembler ofelectronics products for other companies, has cut working hours andenhanced safety, the Fair Labor Association said in its firstreport following an audit of three of the manufacturer'sfacilities. Taipei-based Foxconn is ahead of schedule in its15-month plan to improve working conditions, the associationsaid.

Apple turned to the Washington-based labor monitoring groupafter suicides of Foxconn workers and an explosion at anothersupplier soiled public perceptions of the world's most valuablecompany. Foxconn pledged to cut hours to 49 a week by July 2013,raise wages and give employees more say in management, measuresthat are shifting activists' focus to rival companies.