Foxconn used five times more temp workers than permitted for 'iPhone 11' assembly surge

The motivation for the law is one of a societal goal, but it doesn’t seem to account for something like an annual spike in the need for labor by a company.  Therefore strict enforcement of such a law introduces inefficiencies.  

Further, how does it harm any of the permanent employees or the 10% representing temporary workers to add one more temporary worker after you’ve reached the 10% threshold?  I’d doesn’t make sense.  If it’s harmful to have some quantity of temporary workers over some arbitrary limit, why isn’t it harmful to have even that initial 10%, why isn’t the very first temporary worker hire causing harm?  

radarthekat said:

The motivation for the law is one of a societal goal, but it doesn’t seem to account for something like an annual spike in the need for labor by a company.  Therefore strict enforcement of such a law introduces inefficiencies.  

Further, how does it harm any of the permanent employees or the 10% representing temporary workers to add one more temporary worker after you’ve reached the 10% threshold?  I’d doesn’t make sense.  If it’s harmful to have some quantity of temporary workers over some arbitrary limit, why isn’t it harmful to have even that initial 10%, why isn’t the very first temporary worker hire causing harm?  

I won't pretend to know anything about Chinese labour laws but perhaps the limits on temporary workers is because they have fewer rights than permanent workers? There is a risk that companies permanently employ temporary workers and don't provide them with the same stability, benefits etc. Similar but not the same as the fight that Uber has about contractors vs employees.

radarthekat said:

The motivation for the law is one of a societal goal, but it doesn’t seem to account for something like an annual spike in the need for labor by a company.  Therefore strict enforcement of such a law introduces inefficiencies.  

Further, how does it harm any of the permanent employees or the 10% representing temporary workers to add one more temporary worker after you’ve reached the 10% threshold?  I’d doesn’t make sense.  If it’s harmful to have some quantity of temporary workers over some arbitrary limit, why isn’t it harmful to have even that initial 10%, why isn’t the very first temporary worker hire causing harm?  

The law is there to prevent abuses and increase the quality of life of the workers.  It doesn't introduce inefficiencies; it introduces potentially higher production costs for the companies.  The annual spike in labor can be filled by those same workers.  Classify and pay them as permanent and not temporary and the problem no longer exists.  It does cost more because permanent workers typically have benefits and wages that are most often far greater than temps.  

This isn't an honest question: 

Further, how does it harm any of the permanent employees or the 10% representing temporary workers to add one more temporary worker after you’ve reached the 10% threshold?
 They didn't add one more temp.  They added 50% of their workforce as temps.  That's 40% more than allowed by law.  That's potentially lower wages, lesser benefits, and most importantly lower costs which feed higher profit.  The 10% may be an arbitrary number or there could be some data behind it, idk.  The ultimate goal is to raise the standard of living and quality of life for the Chinese people.   Making more of your citizens permanently employed goes a long way towards that goal.  The 10% is an understanding that there needs to be some flexibility built into the system.  Just my opinion.

More detail on the complaint from CNBC -- whether founded or unfounded, but pertinent:

"Workers earn a base wage of 2,100 yuan ($295), which is “insufficient to sustain the livelihood for a family living in Zhengzhou city,” according to the CLW report.

The report also claims other rights violations at the factory including:

• Workers at the factory put in “at least 100 overtime hours a month” during peak production seasons, even though Chinese labor law states they must not work more than 36 overtime hours a month. Resignations are not approved for regular workers during peak season.
• Some dispatch workers* failed to receive bonuses promised to them from the dispatch company.
• Student employees also work overtime during peak production season even though internship laws prohibit that.
• The factory does not provide workers with adequate personal protective equipment and workers do not receive any occupational health and safety training.
• The factory does not report work injuries."

*  They use the term "dispatch workers" instead of "temporary workers" -- likely because they are paid and furnished by outside firms rather than employed by the company itself.  Many healthcare organizations in the U.S. employ the same tactic -- use workers employed by outside companies in order to evade workplace rules and worker rights.