Following Backlash, Apple Takes Probationary Action against Foxconn’s India Plant

Apple has revealed that it has issued probationary action against Foxconn, the operator of its plant in South India. This comes after investigations conducted by both the corporations revealed subpar living conditions prevalent in the lodgings of workers.

While Apple did not specify the stipulations of the probation, the plant which is located in the town of Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, has been closed indefinitely since December 18th, 2021. However, a Foxconn spokesperson has assured the public that the plant’s 17,000 employees will continue to be remunerated while the company takes the necessary measures to assess the situation and resolve the issue effectively.

This move comes in light of the recent outcry after over 250 female employees working at the plant fell ill with food poisoning, with 150 of them requiring hospitalization. Apple has stated that it has sent independent auditors to the location to evaluate the offsite dormitories and dining rooms used by the employees "following recent concerns about food safety and accommodation conditions at Foxconn Sriperumbudur."

Apple has assured that it will not reopen the plant until adequate restorative steps have been taken at the worker accommodations so that they meet the company’s standards and policies.

A high-ranking government official has also stated that state government authorities are presently working with Foxconn to thoroughly investigate the issue regarding workplace inadequacies. They also added that once a resolution has been reached and implemented at the behest of the government, “workers will be inducted and the company will resume production."

Experts have contended the effects of the factory closure on Apple’s operational output to be nominal. However, the plant is key in alleviating the tech giant’s dependence on its distribution chains in China, as trade friction between Washington and Beijing continues to mount.

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