Violent protest erupts in China

Workers at one of the largest factories in central China have dramatically erupted in protest as tensions flare in Zhengzhou.

Employees at Foxconn, the world’s largest technology manufacturer, broke into protest and clashed with security officers over pay and living conditions on November 23.

Video on social media showed hundreds of workers marching on a road and confronted by riot police as well as people wearing hazmat suits.

The protest turned violent — footage shared with AFP and captured by a factory worker showed one person lying inert on the ground next to a man in a blood-spattered jacket having his head bound in an apparent effort to staunch a wound.

Another clip showed dozens of hazmat-clad personnel wielding batons and chasing employees, one of whom was knocked to the ground before appearing to be kicked in the head.

The Taiwanese company confirmed the unrest. A worker, who requested anonymity, told AFP at least 20 people were injured and some were taken to hospital.

The confrontations broke out after employees who signed an agreement with the factory to work at least 30 days in return for a one-time payment of 3000 yuan ($620) suddenly saw the figure slashed to just 30 yuan, he told AFP.

Many workers were also incensed by “chaotic” living conditions, he said, adding that he “had not received any food” from the company since Tuesday.

Some Covid-negative staff had also been ordered to work alongside colleagues who once tested positive but were not quarantined, the worker said.

Foxconn statement

Foxconn said workers had complained about pay and conditions at the plant but denied it had housed new recruits with Covid-positive staff at the Zhengzhou factory, the world’s largest producer of iPhones.

“Regarding any violence, the company will continue to communicate with employees and the government to prevent similar incidents from happening again,” the firm said in a statement.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

China’s unrelenting zero-Covid policy has caused fatigue and resentment among swathes of the population, some of whom have been locked down for weeks at factories and universities or left unable to travel freely.

Other videos posted on social media and subsequently verified by AFP included footage of a man with a bloodied face as someone off-camera says: “They’re hitting people, hitting people. Do they have a conscience?” Another at the same scene showed dozens of workers confronting a row of police officers shouting “Defend our rights! Defend our rights!” while another voice talks of “smoke bombs” and “tear gas”.

The Weibo hashtag “Foxconn riots” appeared to be censored by Wednesday noon but some text posts referring to large protests at the factory remained live.

Hotbed of unrest

Foxconn, also known by its official name Hon Hai Precision Industry, is the world’s biggest contract electronics manufacturer, assembling gadgets for many international brands.

The tech giant, Apple’s principal subcontractor, recently saw a surge in Covid-19 cases at its Zhengzhou site, leading the company to shut the vast complex to keep the virus in check.

The huge facility of about 200,000 workers — dubbed “iPhone City” — has since been operating in a “closed loop” bubble.

Footage emerged this month of panicking workers fleeing the site on foot in the wake of allegations of poor conditions at the facility.

Multiple employees later recounted to AFP scenes of chaos and disorganisation at the complex of workshops and dormitories.

The firm has offered large bonuses and other incentives for employees who stayed at the plant as the local government bussed in fresh labourers in a bid to keep it afloat.

Apple this month acknowledged the lockdown had “temporarily impacted” production ahead of the holiday season at the Zhengzhou factory, the Taiwanese company’s crown jewel that churns out iPhones in quantities not seen anywhere else.

Foxconn is China’s biggest private sector employer, with more than a million people working across the country in about 30 factories and research institutes.

China is the last major economy wedded to a strategy of extinguishing Covid outbreaks as they emerge, imposing lockdowns, mass testing and lengthy quarantines despite the widespread disruption to businesses and international supply chains.

The policy has sparked sporadic protests throughout China, with residents taking to the streets in several major Chinese cities to vent their anger.

State media outlet Global Times reported that Foxconn had apologised for a “technical error that caused changes in employees’ subsidy policy”.

The paper stated videos showed that “some disappointed workers” protesting in Zhengzhou.