Foxconn expects the Covid-hit China works to continue total production almost year-end

December 7, 2022: -Apple supplier Foxconn is anticipating its Covid-hit Zhengzhou plant in China to resume total production roughly December to the beginning of January, a Foxconn source stated, following worker unrest disrupted the world’s considerable iPhone factory.

The Zhengzhou plant is grappling with strict Covid-19 limitations that have fueled workers’ discontent more than factory conditions.

Production of the Apple device was stopped ahead of Christmas and January’s Lunar recent Year holidays, with many workers having to isolate to battle the virus’s spread or flee the plant.

“The capacity is being gradually started” with new staff hiring underway, said the spokesperson.

“If the recruitment reaches smoothly, it could take nearly four weeks to resume the complete production,” the person said, which points to a period around late December to January.

According to the source, Foxconn and the local administration are working hard on the recruitment drive, but every uncertainty remains. The person cited “fears” a few workers might have regarding working for the company after the plant was reached by protests in the previous month that sometimes related to violence.

“We are firing on every cylinder on the recruitment,” the person added.

On Monday, shares of Foxconn increased 0.5%, in line with the 0.6% increase in the broader market.