Animal grin of socialism: workers massively flee iPhone assembly plant in China

Two days ago, Novye Izvestia already reported on protests related to labor disputes and severe anti-COVID restrictions, in which workers from the world's largest iPhone factory, Foxconn Technology Group, participated. As a result, hundreds of people were beaten and detained. True, Bloomberg then clarified that in fact the reason for the protests was non-payment of salaries. It became especially difficult for workers in October, when almost 200,000 people were quarantined, and they did not even have enough money for medicine, so many employees fled the plant.

Now more than 20,000 new employees have left Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant, Reuters reports, citing company sources. Videos posted on Chinese social media show crowds of workers laden with luggage queuing for buses, as well as a banner reading "Time to go home," the outlet said.

The departure of workers occurred after, in connection with the increase in the incidence and the introduction of restrictive measures, part of the employees quit, the remaining firm offered large bonuses and other incentives. However, at the rallies, workers announced the lack of promised payments, poor working conditions and quarantine.

However, most of those who left were new employees who had not yet begun work, so their departure did not affect current production, but it will complicate the company's goal of resuming full production by the end of November, Reuters sources said.

Foxconn previously said it did not pay part of the funds to employees due to a "technical error". The company noted that it is in constant contact with employees about wages and bonuses and is doing everything possible "to actively solve problems and reasonable requirements of employees."