Foxconn apologizes after campus disturbance

• Foxconn apologizes to workers.
• It appears after violent protests in central China.
• There was a technical issue in its payment system.

Foxconn has apologized to workers after violent iPhone protests in central China.

The Taiwanese IT company said Thursday there was a “technical issue” in its payment system and no change to agreed pay rates after workers protested in Zhengzhou.

“At now, the park is actively communicating with the staff affected by the inaccurate information,” the firm said in a statement.

People tore down fences, smashed surveillance cameras and windows, and clashed with police, leaving several workers bloodied.

Some workers alleged Foxconn planned to delay incentive payments, while others stated they were forced to share dorms with COVID-19-positive coworkers.

Foxconn’s apologies came as Zhengzhou imposed a lockdown for more than half of the city’s 10.3 million people and COVID-19 instances countrywide soared.

From Friday midnight, city center residents will need a negative COVID test and authorization to depart. Residents should stay home “unless necessary.”

China’s total infections surged to 31,454 on Thursday as officials battle a COVID revival in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing.

Despite Beijing’s requests for more concentrated steps to limit illnesses, authorities around the country have reimposed restrictions such as lockdowns and mass testing.

The tighter limitations undermine prospects for an exit from Beijing’s “zero-COVID” strategy, which attempts to stamp out the virus wherever it comes up and portend further pessimism for China’s stuttering economic recovery.

The world’s second-largest economy may only grow 3% in 2022, one of its poorest showings in decades. GDP grew 3.9% from July to September after rising 0.4% the previous quarter.

Also Read

Chinese iPhone factory riots

China's public health commission reports 29,157 illnesses for Tuesday. China's daily caseload...