In response to speculation that operations at its Chinese plant in Zhengzhou had been disrupted by COVID-19, electronics giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. said Sunday that the situation there was under control with the cooperation of local authorities.
In a statement, Hon Hai, known as Foxconn globally, underlined that taking care of employees has been its top priority.
With local authorities’ guidance, strict epidemic prevention controls had been imposed at the plant with more than 200,000 workers, including closed-loop management, point-to-point commute services, and daily COVID-19 tests, Hon Hai said.
It added that workers at the compound are given free meals and a 24-hour consultation hotline has been established to address their needs.
With the COVID-19 situation improving at the compound, Hon Hai said that it would do its best to guarantee workers necessary supplies and essentials.
From Oct. 30, transportation has also been arranged to take workers to isolation sites before allowing them to go home, the company said, expressing thanks for the public’s concerns and asking for understanding.
Located in the capital city of Henan Province, the Zhengzhou plant is Hon Hai’s major production base for iPhones.
On Oct. 26, Hon Hai denied reports that its operations in Zhengzhou had been severely disrupted by COVID-19, describing rumors that there were 20,000 infections at the plant as “disinformation.”
It said production in Zhengzhou remained normal despite sporadic cases among its workers, following rumors about a large number of infections at the facility since mid-October.
Due to lockdowns in some cities, bus services outside the Zhengzhou campus have been suspended.
Videos showing workers “fleeing” the compound have gone viral recently on Chinese social media platforms. In some videos, workers were seen carrying their belongings in plastic bags while leaving the site on foot.
There were also videos that showed workers walking on dusty roads, with food and water supply stations along the way.
According to a post from a person who claimed to be a Foxconn employee, COVID-19 had been detected at the Zhengzhou plant on Oct. 8, but management did not take action until Oct. 14, when infections had spread throughout the factory and dormitories.
As of Monday morning, Zhengzhou City authorities said, there had been no severe COVID-19 infection cases recorded at the Foxconn plant and the overall situation there was under control.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel