Skip to main content

Foxconn workers went on strike, but for a different reason than the one you’re thinking

foxconn
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In recent years, Chinese manufacturer Foxconn has come under fire for having less-than-hospitable working conditions that are coupled with brutal work hours. Last week, roughly 1,000 Foxconn workers in the company’s Chongqing plant stopped working, but not because they worked too many hours, reported Chinese newspaper Securities Daily.

The latest dispute between Foxconn workers and corporate centered around the desire to increase worker overtime. While this might seem counterintuitive, overtime pay represents a sizable chunk of many workers’ income. Without overtime pay, a Foxconn worker earns, on average, around RMB 2,000 ($326) a month. Factor in overtime pay and that number jumps to RMB 3,000 or 4,000 a month ($489 – $652).

This recent overtime reduction was a result of a reduced order from Hewlett-Packard. Disgruntled workers met with Foxconn corporate, with the issue having been resolved after four hours of negotiations. A much smaller follow-up protest rose, which was also resolved.

Even with Foxconn criticized for its apparent maltreatment of its workers, the company still has to walk a fine line between appeasing those who are critical of its practices and satisfying its own workers.

Editors' Recommendations

Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
You’re ruining your iPhone 14 Pro if you turn off the always-on screen
iPhone 14 Pro showing the Moon always-on screen, held in a man's hand.

With the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max Apple gave us a wonderful gift, but I’m seeing some ungratefulness. I’m talking about the always-on screen, which brings the new iPhone alive in a way it never has been before. Yet, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, there are quite a lot of people turning the feature off!

By dismissively rejecting the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on screen like this, you’re ruining the best thing about it.
What’s so good about it?

Read more
PAW Patrol dogs will get you where you’re going with new Waze feature
Characters from the PAW Patrol.

Waze likes to roll out fun features from time to time, and the latest one is timed to the launch of PAW Patrol: The Movie.

Aimed at kids, or, more accurately, parents who are eager to keep their little ones entertained on long drives, Waze users globally can now get driving directions from Ryder and his loyal team of rescue dogs.

Read more
Visible just made its unlimited 5G plan better than ever
Visible wireless phones and plans featured

Digital wireless service provider Visible has announced upgrades to its premium Visible+ phone plan. The highlight is a new Global Pass feature that allows Visible customers to use their phones in 140 countries worldwide.

The Visible Global Pass offers unlimited talk and text services, along with 2GB of high-speed data, for a flat rate of $10 per day. Visible+ members can also enjoy a free Global Pass usage day every month. The activation process can be done through the Visible app.

Read more