Foxconn to restart Indian factory after protest, government says

NEW DELHI (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) - Foxconn Technology Group will restart production at its factory in southern India after its temporary workers, mostly women, staged a protest over conditions at the company's living quarters and food quality, according to the local state government.

Foxconn, the main assembler of Apple's iPhones, has agreed to all demands made by the employees and will resume production soon, the Tamil Nadu government said in a statement dated Dec 25.

It promised to improve the working and living conditions of the temporary workers, such as by expanding their living areas, upgrading bathing facilities and providing drinking water, according to the statement.

The Taiwanese electronics giant also agreed to expand the factory, located near the state's capital city of Chennai, and hire more workers.

Temporary workers at the Chennai plant staged a protest on Dec 18, following cases of food poisoning at the factory that led to hospitalisations, The Hindu newspaper reported.

The plant will stay shut for three more days, Reuters reported a senior government official as saying on Monday, extending the week-long closure. 

The plant is expected to start production with 1,000 workers on Dec 30, according to the person close to the matter who was not authorised to speak with media and declined to be identified.

A separate government source had said last week that the plant was closed on Dec. 18 and was expected to remain shut until Dec 26.

Foxconn did not respond to a request for comment.

The gates of the factory, which is on the outskirts of the southern city of Chennai, were open on Monday morning and some vehicles were moving in and out but the area was mostly deserted.

The plant makes iPhone 12 models, and media reports have said Apple has started trial production of its flagship iPhone 13 at the factory recently.