Foxconn Increases Wages for Entry-level Workers

Foxconn, Apple's major product manufacturer, announced, Friday, new wage increases for the junior level workers, boosting them up by 16-25 percent.

According to Reuters, if the entry-level workers in Shenzhen pass a technical examination, their salary will be increased from 1,800 yuan ($290) per month to more than 2,200 yuan. This is the third wage rise since 2010. Three years ago, their salary was only 900 yuan a month.

As a top manufacturing company in China, the basic salary of junior workers in all of Foxconn's China factories is already far higher than the minimum wage set by all local governments, a Foxconn statement said.

We will provide more training opportunities and learning time, and will continuously enhance technology, efficiency and salary, so as to set a good example for the Chinese manufacturing industry, the statement added.

Currently, Foxconn is under criticism and pressure, especially after the New York Times published a lengthy report last month, about the terrible working conditions in the factory.

The workers in the Chinese factory are under great working pressure. They work excessive, they work overtime - sometimes even seven days a week. And, they are also forced to live in the cramped dormitory and get extremely low wages, according to the article.

In 2010, a series of young workers committed suicide by jumping from the building in the factory. Some explosions also accidentally take place from time to time, because the workers are exposed to toxic chemicals.

However, Apple CEO Tim Cook had defended Foxconn, claiming, We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain, 9to5Mac reported.

We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern, Cook wrote in an email to the employees.

Moreover, Apple has approved Fair Labor Association to inspect the working condition in Foxconn beginning Feb. 14.