Violent riots erupt at Chinese iPhone factory

Unbelievable videos posted to social media show a man being beaten on the ground, and law enforcement expelling tear gas into the emotional crowd. 

Protests at an iPhone factory in China. Picture: AFPTV teams / AFP

Unbelievable videos posted to social media show a man being beaten on the ground, and law enforcement expelling tear gas into the emotional crowd. 

A man has been filmed being kicked on the ground by numerous security officers wearing full-body protective suits after riots broke out at the world's largest iPhone factory in China yesterday.

Another had blood streaming from his head amidst clashing between new recruits at the massive Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou and police and security guards.

Footage posted to social media also showed someone being hit in the head with a baton and tear gas being deployed

The protests come after rising Covid cases saw the site, a critical part of Apple’s supply chain, locked down last month, prompting some workers to break out and go home. The company then recruited new workers with the promise of generous bonuses.

Foxconn attempted to hire 100,000 new employees who then reportedly revolted over their contracts not being what was promised. Another concern the new employees had was working with existing staff who were considered to be Covid carriers. 

"They changed the contract so that we could not get the subsidy as they had promised. They quarantine us but don't provide food," one Foxconn worker said during a social media live stream.

"If they do not address our needs, we will keep fighting."

Workers at Foxconn's iPhone factory in Zhengzhou in central China clash with riot police as well as people wearing hazmat suits. Photo by AFPTV teams.

Covid cases continue to increase across China, despite Beijing’s zero-tolerance policy, which forces millions to undergo mass testing and imposes strict isolation measures if any cases are confirmed. Nearly 30,000 new cases were reported on Monday. Beijing recorded nearly 1,500 cases overnight and increased its infection control policy - a negative PCR test result within 48 hours is now required to enter public venues in the capital.

Viral video footage shows also workers rocking a police car, pushing past barricades while chanting "fight" and "defend our rights", and using sticks to shatter windows and surveillance cameras.

Chinese workers in the Foxconn factory in Shenzhen, in southern China's Guangdong province. Picture: AFP

The plant is a critical part of Apple’s supply chain, making half of the world’s iPhones and up to 85 per cent of iPhone 14 Pros. It is believed to be one of the few facilities equipped to make the high-end models, which cost about pounds 1,100.

Foxconn hit back, claiming the payment contracts were as promised and new recruits were not residing with infected staff. They claimed the protests were a result of delays to new recruits' work schedules.

Workers at Foxconn's iPhone factory in Zhengzhou in central China breaking down a fence. Photo by AFPTV teams.

“After about 400 to 500 workers arrived here, the work environment was not prepared," a notice by the company said.

They also said iPhone production was not effected by the protests.

Strict lockdowns are very much still a part of life in China with Beijing's zero-tolerance policy. China reported 253,000 covid cases in the last three weeks and almost 30,000 new cases on Monday.

With The Times