Media reported that after the outbreak of COVID-19, the world's largest iPhone assembly plant in Zhengzhou began en masse
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Foxconn is the main iPhone assembler forApple. The plant employs about 300,000 people. China, on the other hand, continues to adhere to a policy of zero tolerance for COVID-19. In an attempt to enforce this policy and not disrupt the economy, the authorities are allowing what is known as closed-loop manufacturing, where employees work, eat, and sleep on campus during quarantine.
Last week, Foxconn confirmed reports ofoutbreak of COVID-19 in their plant. The company did not specify the number of infected workers, saying production remains "relatively stable" and the situation "under control." Workers' social media posts showed a different picture. It appears from them that the number of infected continues to grow, and that the company is struggling to provide enough food and medicine for those who are in quarantine.
The Washington Post now reports that everythingmore workers are leaving the factory and not going back. They say going to work has become dangerous. Foxconn denied reports of a failure to provide adequate food and medicine and said it was offering transportation for all employees who wish to leave the plant and return home. The iPhone assembler also says it is arranging additional production capacity at smaller factories to make up for the shortfall.
In addition, to keep workers fromlayoffs, Foxconn is offering free meals and a bonus of about 1,500 yuan to anyone who works all of their shifts from October 26 to November 11. This is about 20% of the monthly salary.