Foxconn, Apple’s main iPhone assembler, has ramped up iPhone production at its factory in Zhengzhou, China ahead of the expected iPhone 12 launch next month.
A new report from the South China Morning Post says the factory is working 24 hours per day, offering worker bonuses, and canceling holidays to focus on iPhone production.
One employee told the paper that workers at the facility had begun working night shifts, while another said overtime shifts had picked up since the summer. Employees have also been asked to cancel upcoming holidays, the report says.
The same employee said that workers were only allowed to take a maximum of four days per month. The report says that mandatory overtime includes “juicy bonuses for longer-serving staff.”
“You can earn 5,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan ($880 USD) per month, and if you work at the factory for more than 90 days, there’s a handsome amount of special pay,” said the 33-year-old who has worked at the factory for over four years.
Foxconn is reportedly offering staff a bonus of 10,000 yuan to any worker who started work after September 18, stays on for at least 90 days, and works at least 55 days. Staff also get a small bonus for referring a new worker.
According to the report, many workers have been asked to cancel upcoming holidays for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National day. One worker said that “some people are willing to do this” because Chinese labor laws meant triple salary would be paid for the first three days.
The report further notes that local authorities have ensured that the factory’s 200,000 employees have been able to return to work “as quickly as possible” following the pandemic.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 12 at an event on October 13, with pre-orders to begin the same week.
