The Chinese administration has again announced a lockdown in the world’s largest iPhone factory. Beijing has taken this decision to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. For days, workers at Foxconn’s factory in China’s Zhengzhou province, which manufactures iPhones, began fleeing the lockdown. This time, the administration has ordered the residents not to go out of their homes without the need for a Covid test or treatment.
Just last week, pictures of workers escaping from the world’s largest iPhone factory went viral on social media. Taiwanese company Foxconn is in charge of operating the factory. Several reports said that hundreds of thousands of workers have already fled due to the fear of the lockdown.
After leaving the factory, some workers reported poor conditions in the factory online. Some are reported to have returned home on foot.
The Chinese government is still unwilling to make any compromises to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This is why the lockdown starts when the infection is reported from any region. At the same time, the administration of that country is starting to quickly test everyone for corona and diagnose the infection.
A 7-day lockdown has been announced for now. Everyone has already been ordered by the Zhengzhou administration to work from home. Only health vehicles and those associated with emergency deliveries will be allowed to hit the road.
This district has more than 6 lakh inhabitants. The administration has arranged regular Covid test for this large number of people. The local administration has said that strict action will be taken against any violation of the rules.
The festive season is just beginning in the countries of the western world. Every year before Christmas, New Year, iPhone sales spike. In this situation, the lockdown in the world’s largest iPhone factory has left the company worried. A recent report said iPhone production could drop by 30 percent once the lockdown begins. Buyers may face problems due to high demand.
Meanwhile, Foxconn, Apple’s supplier, has announced a fourfold increase in employee bonuses. The company took this initiative to retain the workers of China’s Zhengzhou factory in iPhone production and to remove their dissatisfaction during the corona virus pandemic.
Foxconn said in a statement that workers who make smartphones and other electronic products at the Zhengzhou plant had their bonus increased from 100 yen to 400 yen ($55) a day in November.
It may be noted that due to frequent lockdowns in China, Apple plans to gradually shift production from that country to other countries. For this reason, apart from Vietnam, Foxconn has decided to emphasize production capacity and supply chain in India.
