Along with the long queues of people waiting to buy the latest version of the Apple iPAd tablet computer outside company's retail stores in New York, San Francisco and Washington, there will be protestors to voice their concerns over the welfare of Chinese workers in Apple's global supply chain.

Protesters are expected to gather outside stores amid crowed of anticipating customers at 8 a. m. launch of the company's third-generation tablet computer. A group of activists, who have created a digital petition and received
250,000 signatures, has urged Apple to improve conditions at facilities that are involved in producing Apple devices.

Protestors said that they would display critical messages in front of the TV reporters who are expected to gather outside stores to cover the launch of the product at the company's biggest stores.

A report in The New York Times had claimed the workers assembling iPhones, iPads and other devices for Apple face harsh conditions and work excessive overtime at factories in China. The repot also said that two explosions killed 4 people and injured 77 in previous year.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has assured that the company is taking steps to improve the conditions of factories where its devices are being produced. He also said that he dos not know any other company that is doing so much to address the problem.