Foxconn expects COVID-hit China plant back to full output in late Dec-early Jan -source - Reuters

TAIPEI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW) expects its COVID-hit Zhengzhou works successful China to resume afloat accumulation astir precocious December to aboriginal January, a Foxconn root said connected Monday, aft idiosyncratic unrest disrupted the world's biggest iPhone factory.

The Zhengzhou works has been grappling with strict COVID-19 restrictions that person fuelled discontent among workers implicit conditions astatine the factory. Production of the Apple (AAPL.O) instrumentality was disrupted up of Christmas and January's Lunar New Year holidays, with galore workers either having to isolate to combat the dispersed of the microorganism oregon fleeing the plant.

"The capableness is present being gradually resumed" with caller unit hiring nether way, said the idiosyncratic with nonstop cognition of the matter. The idiosyncratic declined to the named arsenic the accusation was private.

"If the recruitment goes smoothly, it could instrumentality astir 3 to 4 weeks to resume afloat production," the idiosyncratic said, pointing to a play astir precocious December to aboriginal January.

Foxconn and the section authorities are moving hard connected the recruitment thrust but galore uncertainties remain, according to the source. The idiosyncratic cited "fears" immoderate workers mightiness person astir moving for the institution aft the works was deed by protests past period that sometimes turned violent.

"We are firing connected each cylinders connected the recruitment," the idiosyncratic said.

Foxconn declined to comment.

Shares of Foxconn were up 0.5% connected Monday morning, successful enactment with the 0.6% emergence successful the broader marketplace (.TWII).

Reporting By Yimou Lee; Editing by Tom Hogue and Kenneth Maxwell

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