iPhone 16 Release Imminent, Foxconn Rushes Production Amidst Labor Shortage Despite High Wages

iPhone 16 Release Imminent, Foxconn Rushes Production Amidst Labor Shortage Despite High WagesAs Apple prepares to unveil the new iPhone 16 on September 10th, its suppliers are entering a crucial final sprint. According to media reports, Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is working around the clock in a two-shift system to ensure a smooth launch of the new product

iPhone 16 Release Imminent, Foxconn Rushes Production Amidst Labor Shortage Despite High Wages

As Apple prepares to unveil the new iPhone 16 on September 10th, its suppliers are entering a crucial final sprint. According to media reports, Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory is working around the clock in a two-shift system to ensure a smooth launch of the new product. However, despite offering high wages, Foxconn, facing immense production pressure, continues to grapple with a severe labor shortage.

Long queues of workers awaiting interviews can be seen outside the Zhengzhou Foxconn recruitment center. Recruitment agencies are actively seeking workers, offering hourly wages of up to 27 yuan and a return bonus of 8500 yuan. Earlier, Foxconn's recruitment WeChat account announced that return-based workers could earn up to 22,500 yuan for working a minimum of 3 months this year. Meanwhile, high-paying hourly workers could earn up to 7840 yuan for completing 280 hours of work per month.

A line manager from Foxconn, who has worked in the factory for over 10 years, stated that the most noticeable aspect recently is the "labor shortage, a massive labor shortage." Frontline employees from several suppliers confirmed that this year's overall recruitment numbers have surpassed last year's. Common themes among factory workers include "labor shortage," "fatigue," and "overtime."

In addition to offering high salaries, Foxconn has implemented other measures to alleviate the labor shortage, such as providing free accommodation and meals, and conducting skills training for new employees. However, these measures seem insufficient to completely resolve the labor shortage issue.

Analysts point out that the labor shortage at Foxconn stems from various factors, including the gap between wages and local living costs, relatively harsh working conditions, and intensifying competition in the labor market.

Despite the labor shortage, Apple holds optimistic expectations for the iPhone 16 series' shipment volume, projecting a potential of 90 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of over 10%. To accomplish such a massive production task, Foxconn needs to overcome the labor shortage challenge and ensure the successful launch of the new product.

As the iPhone 16 release approaches, whether Foxconn can resolve the labor crisis and smoothly complete production will be a focal point of market attention.