Foxconn cramming iPhone 16 production lines with 50,000 new workers

As the time for the introduction of a new iPhone generation nears, Apple's global supply chain jumps into action to make the highly-desired smartphones. Based on a Friday report, it seems that everything's running to schedule.

According to Business Korea citing the Chinese media, assembly partner Foxconn has took on around 50,000 new workers. They are working in the Zhengzhou factory in China, which is the largest production base for iPhones in the world.

The report indicates that the manufacturing of the iPhone 16 generation is seemingly on schedule. Foxconn tends to increase its base of employees in the middle of the summer, and did so on June 28 for 2023's iPhone 15 models.

Local recruiting agencies are usually called upon by Foxconn to rapidly shore up its production lines. The manufacturing of iPhones from August onwards is Foxconn's peak season, requiring the onboarding of thousands of permanent and temporary employees.

Foxconn posted recruitment ads in late July, offering an increased hourly wage of up to 25 yuan ($3.49). The factory has also increased its hiring bonuses from 6,000 yuan ($836) in July to 7,500 yuan ($1,046) in August.

The mass hiring at Foxconn arrives as reports claim production of the iPhone 16 Pro models could start in India in 2024. With Apple keen to expand its production away from a China-centric supply chain, diversification into India is slowly continuing to build up.