China's Foxconn Offering Unprecedented Terms for iPhone Production, Even Chefs Apply

Foxconn to Hire 20,000 New Employees Amid Labor Shortage... 7,500 Yuan Bonus for 3 Months of Work
Concerns Over 'Talent Poaching' Ahead of Foxconn's Mid-Range 5G iPhone Launch Next Month

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry), the world's largest iPhone manufacturing facility, will hire at least 20,000 new employees. Despite the US-China tensions, orders have surged explosively due to the popularity of the iPhone 13 in China. Moreover, Apple is set to launch a mid-range 5G iPhone around the 8th of next month. Foxconn is even offering referral bonuses to employees who recommend factory workers.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to China Zai Riji Jing on the 9th, Foxconn, which is experiencing a labor shortage, decided to hire 20,000 factory workers and has been conducting interviews since the 6th.

The hiring conditions set by Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory are somewhat unprecedented. Foxconn offers a bonus of up to 7,500 yuan (approximately 1.4 million KRW) to new hires (subject to working more than 90 days and attending at least 55 days). Additionally, Foxconn employees who refer workers receive a referral fee of 500 yuan.

The hourly wage at Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is 25 yuan (about 4,700 KRW). With an 8-hour workday, the daily wage is 200 yuan. For 25 working days, the salary amounts to 5,000 yuan (excluding meals and other welfare benefits). Overtime pay is separate. After three months, the 7,500 yuan bonus is paid additionally.

Zai Riji Jing reported that even a chef at a restaurant in Zhengzhou, who used to earn 8,000 yuan per month, applied to Foxconn, and people from all over China are gathering. The media said a chef recently laid off due to COVID-19 came to the Foxconn interview after hearing that although the monthly salary would be nearly halved, working 25 days for 8 hours a day would earn 5,000 yuan plus a separate bonus. It added that others in similar situations also applied to Foxconn.

However, Zai Riji Jing noted that Foxconn job seekers prefer temporary positions over regular employment. The media explained that Foxconn's Apple smartphone production work is simple labor requiring no technical skills, making it difficult to work long-term.

Foxconn factories in Langfang, Hebei Province; Shenzhen, Guangdong Province; and Taiyuan, Shanxi Province also offered hiring conditions similar to those of the Zhengzhou factory. Zai Riji Jing expressed concern that the striking hiring conditions at Foxconn mark the start of a "talent poaching" battle among Chinese smartphone companies.

Huanqiu Shibao cited market research firm Canalys, reporting that due to the success of the iPhone 13 series, Apple regained the top sales position in China in the fourth quarter of last year. It noted that an American tech brand has topped the market for the first time in over six years since 2015. The article also quoted Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce's forecast that Apple will produce about 243 million iPhones this year, a 5.4% increase compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, according to Zhengzhou Customs in Henan Province, the export value of mobile phones from Henan in January reached 272.72 billion yuan (51.2359 trillion KRW), up 17.8% year-on-year. Mobile phones accounted for 28.9% of Henan's total exports last month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.