China deploys village cadres to help Foxconn hire workers in bid to secure nation’s role in Apple’s iPhone supply chain
- Workers who fled from Foxconn’s gated factory compound in Zhengzhou over the past weeks said they have received recruitment calls from village cadres
- The involvement of grass-roots officials in recruiting workers underscores Foxconn’s importance to the local economy as a key exporter and taxpayer
Central China’s Henan province is mobilising its grass-roots governance system to help recruit workers for the world’s largest iPhone factory, run by Foxconn Technology Group in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, in an uncharacteristic move by the local government to safeguard the country’s position in Apple’s supply chain.
The help came after draconian Covid-19 lockdowns have disrupted production at the plant, which usually employs more than 200,000 workers, prompting Apple to issue a rare statement warning about a slowdown in shipments of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and raising questions about whether China is still the ideal production hub for Apple.
Three workers, who were among the many who fled from Foxconn’s gated compound in the past two weeks over fears of the virus, confirmed to the Post that they received phone calls from cadres in their home villages, persuading them to return to the assembly lines.
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Chinese workers flee world’s largest iPhone factory after Covid outbreak
Some villages in Henan have been asked to contribute at least one worker each, although it was taken more as a guideline rather than a mandatory requirement, according to a report this week by Chinese newspaper National Business Daily.
Village cadres are also likely to be responsible for arranging travel logistics for returning workers, such as booking shuttle buses for point-to-point transfer.
All three workers who spoke to the Post said they turned down the cadres’ offers, citing reasons such as subpar hygiene conditions in dormitories and insufficient financial incentives.
