Violent Protests Ensue at Apple’s iPhone Plant in China

Early on Wednesday, violent protests exploded at Foxconn, one of Apple’s IPhone plants in Zhengzhou, China. According to NBC News and videos posted on social media, the protests followed “contract disputes at the world’s biggest Apple iPhone factory that happened earlier in the week.”

Based upon security footage from cameras at Foxconn, crowds of people were blocking roads. According to a factory worker named Zhang, the crowds of people were employees protesting over “a rumor that they would have to work two additional months in order to receive full payment promised in their contracts.” Last month, employees were sent home due to a COVID outbreak that happened in the factory, and were promised extra pay/bonuses if they came back 2 months later. After the rumors swarmed that employees would have to work extra months in order to receive pay, they began protesting. Many videos and pictures of the protests have been circulating around social media, specifically how authorities handled it. According to NBC, videos of protesters being kicked and beaten by security personnel in hazmat suits were taken. Foxconn released a statement denying the payment/contract rumors, and announced they will be in contact with “employees and the government to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”