Foxconn Apologizes to Workers at Zhengzhou Factory in China: "Wage Delays Due to System Error"

Factory Workers Protest Over Wage Arrears
Foxconn: "Issue Caused by System Error"
Promise to Pay Workers' Wages Properly

On the 23rd, workers are protesting at the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Foxconn, the world's largest iPhone manufacturing base located in Taiwan, has apologized to the workers at its Zhengzhou factory in China who staged large-scale protests and promised to pay their wages.

According to major foreign media on the 23rd (local time), Foxconn issued a statement saying that wages were not paid to newly hired workers due to a computer system error. Foxconn explained, "The company has been continuously investigating the issue of unpaid wages" and "discovered a technical error in the system during the new employee recruitment process."

Earlier, when COVID-19 spread within the factory last month causing a mass departure of workers, Foxconn offered an hourly wage of 30 yuan (approximately 5,700 KRW) to recruit new personnel. Additionally, employees who stayed in the dormitory without leaving the factory were promised an incentive of 400 yuan. This was because the reduction in labor force caused production equipment to malfunction, disrupting Apple’s iPhone production.

However, the workers claimed that Foxconn notified them that the bonus payments would be delayed beyond the originally agreed schedule. They also pointed out that the company provided poor meals to employees and that some workers had to share dormitories with colleagues who tested positive for COVID-19 due to inadequate quarantine measures at the factory.

As workers’ dissatisfaction grew, videos showing Zhengzhou factory employees protesting were circulated on social media the day before. In the videos, workers were seen smashing surveillance cameras and clashing with police officers equipped with riot shields. The workers criticized Foxconn, saying it "does not treat people like human beings."

As the controversy escalated, Foxconn issued a statement apologizing for the computer system error and assuring that "the actual wages to be paid to workers are the same as those stated in the recruitment announcement."

Major foreign media, citing anonymous sources related to Foxconn, reported that "the company is trying to communicate with the employees involved in the protests to resolve the dispute" and that Foxconn aims to fully resume production facilities by the second half of the year.

However, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives predicted, "Due to the factory shutdown, Apple is expected to lose $1 billion in iPhone sales weekly," and forecasted that iPhone production could decrease by up to 30% this month following the workers’ protests.

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