With wave of applicants, Foxconn suspends recruitment

The Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou, Henan province, suspended recruitment on Thursday, after more than 100,000 people applied to join the company, The Paper reported on Friday.

The suspension is expected to last for three days, as not all applicants will ultimately be employed, labor intermediary Guo Xiaomei, told the media. She said the plant compound is currently short of beds.

The September-December period is peak season for the world's largest Apple iPhone assembly plant, which is located in Zhengzhou. Production was reduced after many workers left in late October and early November because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously, the new workers could receive a subsidy of 3,000 yuan ($420) after working for 30 days, Guo said. A new annoucement released on Thursday said that another 3,000 yuan will be given to the new employees if they work for 60 days. The base salary is 30 yuan per hour.

The plant increased wages and provided various subsidies to attract new workers. Many local governments in Henan also helped recruit employees for the plant, a major economic driver in the province.

To avoid infection, the plant is asking older workers who tested negative to take a rest for a week, and let newcomers begin work after quarantine, Guo added.