Apple and Foxconn Flee China; Massive Layoffs in Shenzhen; Foxconn Employees Rally for Rights

Apple and Foxconn Flee China; Massive Layoffs in Shenzhen; Foxconn Employees Rally for Rights

Apple and Foxconn Flee China; Massive Layoffs in Shenzhen; Foxconn Employees Rally for Rights

In the midnight hours of June 9th, tension pervaded the Guanlan factory of Foxconn in Shenzhen. Scores of riot police and armed officers rapidly assembled, their presence accentuated by the piercing sirens of over 20 patrol motorcycles, disrupting the tranquil night. Within the grand assembly hall, hundreds of Foxconn employees had convened. The doors to the assembly hall were firmly sealed by armed police. Online footage revealed that Foxconn had announced a 5-day vacation commencing from the Dragon Boat Festival on June 22nd, coupled with a reduction in regular working hours. This unilateral decision incited strong dissatisfaction among Foxconn employees. They rallied within the factory compound advocating for the "N+1" severance package, with the protests involving hundreds of workers. “N+1” refers to the standard severance package plus 1 month of pay to cover for the lack of notice period.