Chinese Local Cadres Are Allegedly Urging Foxconn Staff to Return to the iPhone Manufacturing Line

To maintain its place in Apple's supply chain, the provincial government of China's Henan province is taking an unusual step by mobilizing its community governance system.

According to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP), this aims to aid in recruiting employees for the world's biggest iPhone plant, managed by Foxconn Technology Group in the provincial capital Zhengzhou.

Many employees fled the plant recently as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 increased.

Cadres' Role

Intense lockdowns at the Covid-19 facility, which normally employs over 200,000 people, have slowed down the production of Apple devices. This caused the tech company to release a statement warning of a delay in shipments of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The SCMP has verified with three employees among the thousands who have departed Foxconn's gated complex that they have received phone calls from cadres or a small group in their home towns. Apparently, these people were encouraging them to return to the production lines.

All three employees who talked with the SCMP rejected the cadres' offers, citing factors including poor dorm cleanliness and a lack of financial incentives.

In addition to the ¥500 ($70) incentive Foxconn is currently offering to return employees, one worker who refused to be identified claimed a local cadre offered him a ¥600 ($84) cash bonus if he consented to go back to work.

Since the start of the month, the corporation has also increased the daily attendance incentive from ¥100 ($14) to ¥400 ($56).

It is probable that village cadres will also be in charge of coordinating the return transportation of employees, such as scheduling shuttle buses.

According to a story in the Chinese daily National Business Daily this week, several towns and villages in the province of Henan have been urged to send out at least one worker each. However, this has been seen more as a suggestion than a necessity.

Manufacturing Operations Amid Covid-19 Surge

Foxconn is a major exporter and taxpayer in the area, so much so that local politicians are actively involved in the company's recruitment efforts.

What's happening also highlights China's difficulties in balancing two competing priorities; the containment of a virus spreading freely everywhere in the globe and maintaining the country's economic prosperity.

China has loosened its extreme Covid-19 restrictions for entering travelers, including a shorter quarantine and home isolation time.

This comes after the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, helmed by President Xi Jinping, decided that China must continue with its "dynamic zero" Covid-19 policy, although with certain adjustments to minimize interruption to manufacturing operations.

Recent Situation at Foxconn

The Zhengzhou Foxconn plant has been running in a closed-loop mode, which requires all employees to be on the factory grounds at all times.

Workers began complaining about terrible living conditions as the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 increased last month. Eventually, many of them left the factory. Their concern was heightened by the Chinese government's long-running push to justify abrupt lockdowns.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Trisha Kae Andrada