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The Foxconn Protests in China, Impact on Apple, COVID Protests Worsen in China (Daily Update)

Hello everyone. Today’s update will examine the Foxconn/COVID protests in China. Let’s jump right in.


The Foxconn Protests in China

In an article published on November 24th, here’s CBS News:

“Foxconn, the electronics manufacturing company that assembles Apple's iPhones, apologized Thursday for the pay dispute that triggered massive employee protests, and violent police pushback, at a factory in central China where anti-virus controls slowed production.

Mounting unrest at the Zhengzhou factory has persisted for at least a month, since thousands of employees staged a walkout in October over what they said were unsafe working conditions linked to the spread of COVID-19. All of this comes as China grapples with a spike in virus infections, seen especially in highly populated cities.

Foxconn hired a slate of new employees following the exodus. Accusations that the company unlawfully altered its policies for incoming workers, who say they were hired with the promise of higher pay than they are actually receiving, led to protests at the factory.

Videos shared on social media earlier this week appeared to show one particularly large demonstration involving thousands of people in Zhengzhou, wearing masks and facing rows of police officers wearing protective suits and holding riot shields. Police kicked and hit a protester with clubs after the person grabbed hold of a metal pole that was being used to strike him. Witnesses also said that employees at the iPhone factory were beaten and detained amid the protests.”

Zhengzhou is nicknamed “iPhone City” as it’s the largest hub of iPhone production in the world. Estimates peg Foxconn’s facilities in the region at being responsible for 50% of iPhone production.

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