According to two sources that spoke to Reuters, Foxconn's COVID-affected iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, China, is nearing its entire production operations after its December shipments reached roughly 90% of original projections.
This picture taken on February 22, 2013 shows people walking past a Foxconn recruitment point in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. Taiwan technology giant Foxconn has slowed new hiring at its vast China factories, it said on February 21, but denied the move was linked to weak demand for Apple's iPhone 5, which it produces.
Nearing Full Production
The world's largest Apple iPhone production plant experienced significant output loss in the latter part of last year due to a COVID-19 outbreak and measures taken to suppress the virus, which resulted in the forced resignation of thousands of employees.
Foxconn has been providing bonuses to encourage new hires and persuade current employees to stick with the company. Last month, a source told Reuters that the plant's goal was to restart full production between late December and early January.
One of the sources, who wished to remain anonymous because the information was confidential, stated that production had almost entirely resumed.
The second source told Reuters that although production was almost back to normal, firm managers were still wary in case of a surge of COVID-19 cases in China.
The facility is located in the province of Henan, and a factory official was quoted as saying on Saturday that the plant's current workforce of 200,000 personnel was steady and that its supply chain had stabilized, allowing production capacity to resume.
Following several protests at the Foxconn facility, the Chinese government eventually abandoned its stringent COVID-19 policy in early December, which was welcomed by many businesses that have been hit in the country.
Read also: Foxconn Offers Monetary Incentives to iPhone Production Staff Affected by COVID-19 Lockdown in China
Foxconn's Subsidy Program
According to reports, Foxconn is offering a 5,000 yuan ($718) incentive to employees who agree to work in the facility through the end of March 2023.
South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports that Foxconn will provide $718 in subsidies to workers at the Zhengzhou iPhone production plant who continue their roles from January 1 through March 20.
Additionally, there are subsidies for employees in non-key roles for 4,700 yuan ($673) and employees in other departments for 4,500 yuan ($645).
The integrated Digital Product Business Group of Foxconn, which is in charge of producing the iPhone, made these statements in a WeChat post.
According to Foxconn, a list of qualified employees will be made public on Mar. 10. The rewards will be given out on Mar. 20 to anybody who matches the eligibility conditions for being actively employed on that day.
Additionally, the corporation is raising the "show up" bonus for employees.
Reports also claim that workers who put in more than 23 days of work in January 2023 will be entitled to a 6,000 yuan ($862) bonus.
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