Retired Heroes? How Ex‑Soldiers and Public Servants are Taking on the Apple Factory Gig
Shanghai Securities News kicked off a curious trend: Henan’s local governments are reaching out to retired soldiers and government staff to temporarily work at Foxconn’s colossal iPhone plant in Zhengzhou. The move comes as the factory grapples with the fallout of China’s strict “zero‑Covid” lockdowns.
Why the factory is in a bind
Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant is the biggest iPhone production site in the world, but the last few weeks have seen a lot of trouble. New corporate rules meant workers had to quarantine on site, and a bunch of them ran away, leaving the assembly lines half‑empty. That’s why the local authorities are offering a tempting proposition.
The perks that are hard to resist
- Salary plus bonuses: Retired officials who join the workforce will keep their current public sector pay and rack up extra wages from the factory.
- Jiyuan bonus: In the city of Jiyuan, newcomers can grab an 800‑yuan cash bonus (about S$154) right after signing up, and another 3,000‑yuan reward if they stick around for 30 days.
- Bonus for staying: Foxconn, earlier this month, upped the stakes by quadrupling bonuses for those who stay on and advertised salaries that are higher than usual.
What the drop in demand looks like
Apple itself has upped its finger on the production line, projecting a 30% dip in iPhone 14 shipments last month—a sign that the factory’s output is taking a hit.
Vanishing updates from Foxconn
Despite all the chatter, Foxconn has stayed tight‑lipped and has not shared any details about the plant’s current status or the hiring initiative.
The big picture
With retired veterans and public clerks stepping in, Henan’s cities are hoping to keep the iPhone assembly humming while easing the toll of lockdowns. Only time will tell if this temp worker wave can stave off a bigger slowdown down the line.
Check out Henan Daily’s report that the first new batch of workers hit the floor on November 13—this could be the fresh spark that keeps the factory lights on.
