iPhone maker Foxconn hits back at rumors of worker deaths at facility - Business Insider

• Foxconn denied claims connected societal media that immoderate of its workers died from COVID successful their dormitory.
• Unverified videos circulating online claimed that 8 workers died successful 1 dormitory room.
• Foxconn called the footage "maliciously edited," and said nary workers had died astatine its facility.

Apple's biggest iPhone maker, Foxconn, has denied claims from videos circulating connected societal media that immoderate of its workers died from COVID-19 astatine its works successful Zhengzhou, China.

"Following a elaborate probe into the online video footage alleging 'deaths astatine country 726,' Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) solemnly clarifies determination are nary deaths astatine our facility," the institution said successful a connection to Insider.

Foxconn added successful its connection that it believed the footage was "maliciously edited."

The videos, seen by Insider, assertion to amusement workers shouting and protesting confinement successful their dormitories, with captions alleging that 8 employees died successful their shared dormitory room. Foxconn's Zhengzhou installation employs astir 200,000 workers — galore of whom are from agrarian villages and towns — and operates dormitories to location them.

Some of the clips look to amusement unit successful achromatic protective suits lasting successful a courtyard surrounded by residential blocks, portion wails and yells tin beryllium heard.

A compilation of the clips was tweeted by a Chinese dissident, Bloomberg archetypal reported. The video has accrued much than 500,000 views. 

Insider was incapable to independently verify the veracity of the videos. 

Huge outcry implicit Foxconn workers trying to flight prison-like COVID confinement measures

Foxconn's Zhengzhou mill precocious drew wide attraction connected Chinese societal media, aft videos emerged of its workers climbing fences and walking backmost to their hometowns to flight prison-like COVID-19 measures astatine the plant. Insider could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

After the videos went viral, Foxconn announced connected Sunday that it would put conveyance transport for workers who wanted to instrumentality home.

The installation adopted a impermanent "closed loop system" successful mid-October, aft a tiny coronavirus outbreak astatine the plant.  According to the system, workers person to beryllium transported straight from their dormitories to the mill and back. The strategy allows the mill to tally portion attempting to stamp retired immoderate hint of the virus, successful accordance with Beijing's strict zero-COVID mandate.

However, it's besides greatly restricted the question of the workers, who aren't allowed to permission the premises. Discontent besides grew implicit the hazard of nutrient shortages, with lone accumulation enactment employees being fixed repast boxes portion different workers received basal fare similar breadstuff oregon instant noodles, Bloomberg reported.

The outbreak and consequent developments with Foxconn's workers could spell occupation for the planetary proviso of iPhones up of the vacation season.

The Taiwan-based electronics shaper produces an estimated 70% of Apple's planetary iPhone shipments, according to Reuters. Production of the iPhone could autumn by arsenic overmuch arsenic 30% owed to the caller COVID-19 measures, the outlet reported.

Reuters and Bloomberg reported separately this week that Foxconn is raising workers' wages astatine the Zhengzhou works successful an effort to shore up its workforce amid the departures.