Protests Flare In China At World’s Largest iPhone Factory — Reports

Protests at the world’s largest iPhone factory have turned violent in China, with livestreamed online video showing clashes between workers and police, the BBC reported.

The factory, part of Hon Hai Precision of Taiwan, better known by its trade name Foxconn, saw Covid-related lockdowns at the Zhengzhou facility last month, “prompting some workers to break out and go home,” the BBC said.

More than 100,000 signed up to work at the facility following a recruitment drive, CNN reported last week.

Protesting workers said the plant subsequently “changed the contract they promised,” the BBC said.

Hundreds of workers joined protests, “with some men smashing surveillance cameras and windows,” Reuters reported today, citing footage uploaded on social media.

The protests come just ahead of the holiday shopping season in the United States.

China, which has been trying to ease on stringent “zero-Covid” rules that have damaged its economy, had more than 27,000 new Covid cases on Tuesday, one of the highest totals since the pandemic began.

Hon Hai’s shares ended unchanged at NT$100.50 at the Taiwan Stock Exchange today. They have lost 2.4% in the past month, compared with a 13.6% rise in Taiwan’s benchmark weighted price index. The index closed up 0.5% at 14,608.54 today.

Hon Hai founder Terry Gou is worth $6.1 billion on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List today.

See related posts:

U.S. Commerce Secretary To Attend Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Ceremony in Arizona

Dtech IPO In Shenzhen Mints New China Billionaire Couple

Taiwan Electronics Billionaire Makes Second Sensor Acquisition In A Month

Taipei Should Try To Restart Low-Level Talks With Beijing, Taiwan Ex-Foreign Minister Says

@rflannerychina