Violent protests erupted on Wednesday at the world’s largest iPhone factory, located in central China, at a time when authorities are trying to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and maintain production, ahead of the Christmas period.
Videos posted by workers at the factory in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, show employees clashing with police officers armed with batons and wearing white protective suits. The pictures show police officers beating workers, some of whom are bleeding from the head and others who are limping.
“We want to go home!”# Foxconn The workers shouted as riot police arrived on the scene.
in #Iphone city ββin # zhengzhouπ§π· # my motherπ§π· November 23rd. See my previous tweets for more. pic.twitter.com/KbNndo8Xsc– Jennifer Zeng ζΎι (@jenniferzeng97) November 23, 2022
in #AAPL #An apple the supplier # Foxconn ‘s #affection # zhengzhou In the production plant, the workers rebel again, against the policy of not spreading the virus pic.twitter.com/GNXFio9gdV
– Ray Zhu Love Hong Kong (RZLHongKong) November 23, 2022
China’s zero-tolerance policy against COVID-19 poses a challenge to the management of the factory owned by the Taiwanese conglomerate Foxconn, which, in a normal period, employs more than 200,000 workers on the outskirts of Zhengzhou.
The company confirmed in a statement that violent clashes took place in the building.
The group, which assembles electronic products for several global brands, including US-based Apple Inc, said workers had complained of wage problems and poor working conditions.
Factory Register Increased cases of coronavirusIn recent weeks, a “closed circuit” work system has been imposed. This means that the file Workers are prohibited from leaving the buildingπ§π·
Problems at the factory earlier this month prompted Apple to revise delivery dates for the latest generation iPhone 14 and issue a rare warning to investors about delays.
Foxconn factory workers said the protests began after the company refused to pay promised bonuses. Videos show workers overturning carts, entering factory offices and destroying a booth where COVID-19 tests are being carried out.
Foxconn is working with the Henan provincial government, where the factory is located, to replenish its assembly lines with new workers after the COVID-19 outbreak led to a mass exodus of workers in late 2019. Last month.
Local authorities were tasked with helping to recruit workers for the factory, which accounted for 60% of exports. To maintain production, Foxconn also offered bonuses to the remaining employees.
