Watch: Workers fleeing from Covid lockdown at Foxconn iPhone factory in China

Several videos on social media platforms such as Twitter are showing people scaling a fence in groups and leaving reportedly from Apple‘s largest iPhone assembly factory in China. It is said that these factory workers were forced under a lockdown in the Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou after a Covid outbreak at the workplace.
The videos showing factory workers fleeing have been shared by a BBC correspondent. The workers are reportedly choosing to walk back to their hometowns “in a bid to avoid being caught on public transport.” The Taiwan-based company has also claimed that it would not stop workers from leaving, BBC reports.

As per a report, Zhengzhou reported 167 Covid-19 cases on October 29 – up from 97 infections in the prior seven-day period. Taiwan-based Foxconn reportedly has about 2,00,000 workers at Zhengzhou factory and it has now disclosed the number of infected workers.
“The government agreed to resume dine-in meals to improve the convenience and satisfaction of employees’ lives. At the same time, for some employees who want to return home, the (plant) is cooperating with the government to organise personnel and vehicles to provide a point-to-point orderly return service for employees from today. We are very aware that under the current situation, it is a protracted battle,” Foxconn was quoted as saying.

iPhones production could fall 30%
Citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters reports that the production of Apple iPhones could dip by as much as 30% next month due to tightening Covid-19 curbs in China. The possible dip in production is feared to come a few weeks ahead of the year-end holiday season, which is “a traditionally busy time for electronics makers” especially Apple.
Foxconn is Apple’s biggest iPhone maker and it is responsible for producing 70% of iPhone shipments globally. Furthermore, this factory generates 45% of the Taiwanese firm’s revenue, as per Taipei-based Fubon Research. Foxconn also makes phones in India and contributes a small share of iPhones.