Over 20,000 workers depart from Foxconn factory in China, report

More than 20,000 new workers left Foxconn’s largest iPhone manufacturing facility in China's Zhengzhou over a pay-related dispute with the Taiwanese company, reported Reuters on Friday citing unnamed sources.

Foxconn apologized to workers on Thursday for a technical error, which triggered worker protests and clashes with security personnel at the factory on November 23. Damage to security cameras and property was also reported.

The iPhone manufacturer later offered around $1,400 in severance to workers who were involved in the protest and agreed to resign.

Workers claimed that they were promised a hiring bonus by Foxconn, which has been operating at a reduced capacity since late October after fresh covid curbs were imposed by Chinese authorities to control another covid-19 outbreak.

Though Foxconn hasn't confirmed the departure of workers, another Foxconn employee familiar with the matter said the departure of new workers will have no impact on iPhone production, Reuters reported.

On November 7, Apple also announced that the supply of iPhones 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will remain low due to new covid-19 restrictions in China.

According to a Bloomberg report, due to covid-19 restrictions several workers at the Zhengzhou factory, which employs over 200,000, were quarantined in facilities with poor living conditions and food. Tensions flared after workers found that the company was planning to hold their bonus until they stayed at the factory till March, culminating into protest by hundreds of workers. 

Foxconn has been reportedly planning to resume full production by the end of November to meet the demand for iPhones during the upcoming year-end season sales in North America and Europe.

Smartphone OEMs including Apple have started diversifying production to reduce over-dependence on China. Both Foxconn and Pegatron have started early production of iPhone 14 in India.