This image grab taken from AFP video footage and posted on Nov 23, 2022 shows workers at Foxconn iPhone factory in Zhengzhou in central China clashing with riot police as well as people wearing hazmat suits. - AFP
TAIPEI (AFP): Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn on Thursday (Nov 24) apologised for a "technical error" in its payment systems after violent protests erupted over salaries and conditions at its vast iPhone factory in central China.
Hundreds of workers marched in Zhengzhou -- dubbed "iPhone City" as the world's biggest producer of the smartphone -- with some clashing with riot police and personnel in hazmat suits.
Footage shared with AFP and captured by a factory worker showed one person lying inert on the ground next to a man in a blood-spattered jacket who was having his head bound in an apparent effort to staunch a wound.
A worker told AFP the confrontations broke out after employees who signed an agreement with the factory to work at least 30 days in return for a one-time payment of 3,000 yuan (US$420) suddenly saw the figure slashed to just 30 yuan.
"Our team has been looking into the matter and discovered a technical error occurred during the onboarding process," a Foxconn statement said without going into detail.
"We apologise for an input error in the computer system and guarantee that the actual pay is the same as agreed."
The statement added: "At present, the park is continuing to actively communicate with the employees affected by the wrong information, explaining that the salaries and bonuses of all employees are paid in accordance with company policies."
