Hong Kong/San Francisco, November 7: Apple iPhone supplier Foxconn has announced to give fleeing workers a $70 (nearly 500 yuan) subsidy after Apple warned of iPhone delays due to Covid-related exodus at the Zhengzhou factory in China, the media reported on Monday. Foxconn called the ‘care and love’ subsidy a ‘pre-hiring’ offer as workers would not be able to return until the seven-day lockdown is lifted this week, reports South China Morning Post.
“Foxconn Zhengzhou is offering workers who fled the compound over coronavirus fears a one-off 500 yuan ($70) subsidy if they agree to return to work,” the report said. The company said that it will organise transport to get the workers back at the factory in a “point to point, closed-loop manner” once the lockdown in the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone is lifted. Lockdown in China: Droves of Migrant Workers Flee From iPhone Factory in Coronavirus-Hit Zhengzhou, Videos Go Viral.
Workers Flee From iPhone Factory in Zhengzhou:
Workers have broken out of #Apple’s largest assembly site, escaping the Zero #Covid lockdown at Foxconn in #Zhengzhou. After sneaking out, they’re walking to home towns more than 100 kilometres away to beat the Covid app measures designed to control people and stop this. #China pic.twitter.com/fShxj8WpIl
— Stephen McDonell (@StephenMcDonell) October 30, 2022
Foxconn said it would “revise down” its outlook for the fourth quarter “due to the pandemic affecting some of its operations in Zhengzhou.” Foxconn Zhengzhou employs nearly 3,00,000 workers. The company has closed dining halls in the compound and asked workers to have meals in their dormitories. Canteens reopened last week but with limited seating, the report added. Apple To Change ‘Hey Siri’ Voice Assistant Command to Just ‘Siri’.
There is no official estimate of how many workers have left Foxconn. Apple earlier said that restrictions related to Covid-19 have temporarily affected the main iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility in Zhengzhou. The facility is currently operating at a significantly reduced capacity.
“We are working closely with our supplier to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of every worker,” said Apple, adding that the customers will have to wait longer to receive their new iPhone Pro devices.
(The above story first appeared on Today News 24 on Nov 07, 2022 03:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website todaynews24.top).