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Report: Worker Riot Halts Production at Apple Supplier Foxconn

Apple supplier Foxconn suffered another worker riot on Sunday resulting in the stoppage of production at one of its biggest plants.

September 24, 2012

On the eve of the Sept. 21 release of the iPhone 5, an undercover report emerged that offered new detail into the unsavory working conditions at the factories of Apple supplier Foxconn. Now the massive workforce behind the world's most popular smartphone is in the news again, this time due to a mini riot that occurred over the weekend that prompted a temporary halt in production.

The conflict occurred at Foxconn's Taiyuan plant, which houses roughly 79,000 workers. On Sunday night a fight broke out, which resulted in 5,000 police officers on the scene and 40 people sent to the hospital for injuries.

Details on what ignited the conflict remains scant as China's government generally censors independent social media reports. According to China's Xinhua news, the fight began because of a conflict between workers from two different provinces. But Reuters reported that the fight may in fact stem from a worker dispute with the company's security guards, resulting in the severe beating of one employee and setting off an angry protest from other workers. Yet another report by Micgadget, which claims to have a source inside the factory, indicated that local gang members may have escalated the dispute.

However, in a statement obtained by Reuters, Foxconn said, "The cause of this dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process, but it appears not to have been work-related." Also, contrary to statement from a government official obtained by Xinhua that the plant would not shut down on Monday, Foxconn spokesman Louis Woo told the Wall Street Journal, "Our decision is to take a day off for that particular plant today."

Videos of the incident have begun to trickle out online, as well as further first-hand reports via social media. This latest Foxconn worker unrest is particularly significant because it occurred at the same factory that went on strike back in March over low pay and poor working conditions. This latest incident also follows an earlier riot at Foxconn's Chengdu factory during which 1,000 workers clashed with company security guards.