Concerns Over iPhone 14 Production Disruptions... Fear of Infection Among Foxconn Workers in China

No Infections Confirmed Inside Factory and Proper Treatment Not Received
SCMP Reveals Contradictory Situation of Economic Growth Amid China's Zero-COVID Policy

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] Workers at Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) Zhengzhou plant, which produces Apple iPhones, are reaching a peak of dissatisfaction with COVID-19 prevention policies, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 28th. Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant in Henan Province is the world's largest iPhone production facility, employing as many as 300,000 workers.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

As COVID-19 cases increased in Zhengzhou City, Foxconn banned workers from using the factory's cafeteria last week. They also implemented a 'zero COVID' policy, encouraging workers to live primarily within the dormitories.

SCMP explained that Zhengzhou plant workers have been posting videos, photos, and messages about the internal situation on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo (China's version of Twitter) and TikTok, describing the workers' anxiety and confusion.

One worker, who said they were classified as a close contact of a confirmed case and quarantined in the dormitory with their roommate for three days, reported that after quarantine ended and they returned to work, one-sixth of their team was absent. This indicates that workers are producing iPhones while quarantined in the factory dormitories.

Another worker posted on social media that they were quarantined with three others who tested positive last week, and that one confirmed case has had a fever for several days but has not received any treatment.

SCMP expressed concern over scenes of hundreds of people lining up for COVID-19 testing near piles of garbage scattered throughout the factory.

Regarding this, Foxconn reportedly stated that "a small number of workers have tested positive" and assured that there is no problem with iPhone 14 production, according to SCMP. However, it remains unclear how many confirmed cases and quarantined workers there are inside the locked-down factory.

Henan Province health authorities announced that as of the 27th, 25 infections were confirmed in Zhengzhou City, 20 of which were asymptomatic.

SCMP reported that there is suspicion among Foxconn workers that the number of confirmed cases is being underreported.

SCMP sarcastically noted that Foxconn's factory reflects the contradictory challenge of the Chinese government trying to maintain a zero-tolerance policy on infectious diseases while pursuing economic goals. Foxconn is paying workers an additional 50 yuan (approximately 9,800 KRW) to come to work in order to meet iPhone 14 production targets.

Complaints about meals are also pouring in. With cafeteria use banned, workers must eat ordered meals in their dormitory rooms. Not only are meals often delivered late, but the quality of the delivered food has significantly declined, causing considerable dissatisfaction among workers.

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