William Gallagher
Following riots over pay, Apple's main iPhone manufacturer Foxconn has now offered $1,400 to protesters, conditional on resignation.
There were many reasons why hundreds rioted at Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant, including complaints about a lack of food during COVID confinement. One issue, though, was how Foxconn allegedly altered employment contracts so that new workers did not get the pay they were promised.
Following the riot — and an Apple team arriving at the scene — managers at Foxconn apologized to workers for what it called a "technical error."
According to Reuters, Foxconn subsequently offered 10,000 yuan ($1,400) to protesting new recruits who agreed to resign. An unspecified source told Reuters that over 20,000 workers had accepted the payment and left.
It's not clear whether all 20,000 were involved in the rioting, but it appears they were mostly new hires so it's likely they were affected by the "technical error." Reuters says that these new hires were not yet working on Foxconn's production lines.
Chinese state authorities recently announced that Foxconn needed 100,000 more workers, and also asked retired military personnel to take on roles.
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
29 Comments
Whole thing staged by CCP to hurt American company Apple and Taiwanese Foxconn. “ indirectly”
Not a conspiracy, it’s fact. A week ago, Local Chinese government offered retired communist party members and soldiers to work for Foxconn. These were the same people protesting yesterday clock work like military. And today these same people says they are leaving… Gee whiz?
Conspiracy or not, Apple needs to find a new resource. Would I pay $200 more for an iPhone sources from a non-humanitarian humiliating state? Yes/No. I’d like to see Apple eat $100 of the new resource costs, then I’d happily fork over another $100 too. Foxconn China is just a terrible company. I really want to see Apple diversify in its manufacturing network.