Apple Inc. will no longer allow foreign contract workers at suppliers’ factories to be charged recruitments fees, and the technology company announced it recouped $3.96 million in 2014 in excessive recruitment fees charged to workers, according to the company’s recently released "Supplier Responsibility 2015 Progress Report.”

“When the labor supply is limited, some suppliers turn to third-party recruiters to secure contract workers,” according to the report. “These third parties may charge excessive recruitment fees to foreign contract workers in exchange for jobs. Doing so creates an unjust system that places contract workers in debt before they even begin their jobs.”

The company’s no-recruitment fee policy began this year.

“This reduces the allowable fees from one month’s net wages to zero,” according to the report. “And, as always, any supplier who uses bonded labor will have to repay all foreign contract workers in full for any fees paid.”

Apple also reported it recouped $3.96 million in excessive recruitment fees for more than 4,500 factory workers in 2014. It has gotten reimbursements of $20.96 million to more than 30,000 foreign contract workers since its program began in 2008.

The company also limited the workweek for workers to 60 hours and all overtime is strictly voluntary.

PC World covers the story here.