Suicides Return, Foxconn Workers Forced to Work Long Hours in Silence

Star Chang, May 1, 2013 8:57 AM, 1,266 views, 14 Comments »,

Foxconn has found itself once more embroiled in a suicide scandal after two apparent staff suicide attempts within four days were witnessed by workers from the company’s Zhengzhou plant in central China’s Henan province. The two factory worker, one male and one female, attempted suicide by jumping from buildings between April 24 and April 27. The man has died, while the fate of the woman remains unknown. Sources claim that the Zhengzhou factory entered “silent mode” from the beginning of April, restricting workers from discussing anything unrelated to work while on company premises. Many workers have complained about the new rule, which some believe is related to recent media reports about Foxconn products not meeting quality standards …

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Foxconn Recruit New Workers to Build Apple’s Next iPhone

Cyril Chang, Apr 17, 2013 8:01 PM, 204 views, Got something to say ?,

Foxconn has begun taking on new workers in China as it prepares to begin production of Apple’s next iPhone. The company has added to its numbers at Zhengzhou factory located in eastern China, which is mainly produced iPhone device, ending a freeze on recruitment that was implemented back in February. According to a source from supply chain, the new workers will assemble the upcoming “iPhone 5S,” as well as existing models that Apple has requested to boost capacity. The Zhengzhou plant employs between 250,000 and 300,000 people, and around 10,000 assembly line workers have been added per week since the end of March. Recent reports have claimed that the iPhone 5S will enter production during the second quarter of 2013, ahead of its launch later this year. It could also be joined by a low-cost iPhone which is going to be built by Pegatron, instead of Foxconn. The cheaper version iPhone could help Apple compete in emerging markets, especially in China. Foxconn is said to be feeling the pressure of the increased competition Apple is receiving in the smartphone and tablet markets recently, however, the Taiwanese contractor thought that business will pick up around May when Apple’s new devices enter production. We hope the so-called new iPhone 5S has enough innovative features, minor upgade just won’t cut it.

Watch: The “Ghost City” in China is Best for Filming Zombies

Star Chang, Mar 6, 2013 6:24 AM, 1,055 views, 3 Comments »,

China’s economy has become the second largest in the world, but its rapid growth may have created the largest housing bubble in history. Chinese real estate developers have been building tremendous apartments, infrastructure, and skyscrapers, and not worrying about whether there are people living in. There is a “ghost city” located at the new eastern district of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province in north-central China. You can find new towers with no residents, desolate condos and lots of empty apartments over there. China is urbanizing, rural people are flooding into cities. Real estate business accommodate the urbanization process, but they’ve simply built too much infrastructure too quickly. Majority of the Chinese people just can’t catch up the rise of the property prices. This is not the first “ghost city” we have seen, previously we have a Beijing’s deadman wonderland.

China is selling Fake Walnuts that Packed with Cement

Star Chang, Mar 2, 2013 1:50 PM, 5,582 views, Got something to say ?,

Fake walnuts packed with cement have been found in Zhengzhou city, located in north-central China. The fake edible seeds are circulating in Chinese supermarkets. At first glance, these walnuts look real, but once broken in half, buyers will be unpleasantly surprised to find a tiny rock sandwiched between the walnut shells. To prevent the sound made by the shaking of the nuts, the counterfeiters also wrapped the cement in some paper sheets. Previously, we are already amused the creation of fake eggs and fake chicken wings, the latest ‘cement walnuts’ are telling us that Chinese people possess a high degree of tolerance on China’s dismal food safety … Few more pics after the jump.

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More Riots: Foxconn QC Employees Couldn’t Take Extra Pressure from Apple

Star Chang, Oct 7, 2012 7:04 PM, 1,540 views, 7 Comments »,

Foxconn has been hit by a second bout of labor unrest in less than two weeks as one of its largest factories in China is hurrying to churn out the iPhone 5. More than 200 quality control employees at the plant in Zhengzhou refused to work in protest over their high-pressure work conditions. Foxconn said the incident was triggered by an emotional standoff between the quality control personnel and production-line workers. Workers and government officials in Zhengzhou has revealed of a continued strain on labor relations that was exacerbated by the pressure caused by the iPhone 5 orders. For example, there have been complaints from consumers about scratches on the back of the new device, so Apple tightened the rules for quality control, added pressure to improve its quality inspection of each iPhone 5 to the strictest standards. Workers at the plant are feeling pushed to work to ridiculous amount …

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Watch French ‘Spiderman’ Climbs Skyscraper in China (Video)

Star Chang, Sep 23, 2012 8:43 PM, 474 views, 1 Comment »,

Previously, we have seen rollerman Jean-Yves Blondeau rolled down Mt. Tianmen in Hunan province, now the 50 years-old French climber Alain Robert scaling the world’s tallest steel structure, the Central Plains Fortaleza tower in Zhengzhou city, Henan province. According to reports, he climbed to a platform 268 meters up on the 388-meter structure, taking about two hours. China broadcaster showed Robert, in a red t-shirt and black tights finishing the climb to the applause of a welcoming committee waiting on the platform. It is not the first time Robert has climbed in China. He successfully scaled the 420 metre Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai during 2007.

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Thousands Queue for Foxconn Summer Jobs Ahead of Possible ‘iPad mini’ Production

Chris Chang, Jul 17, 2012 7:49 PM, 4,843 views, Got something to say ?,

Heavy rains have battered Chengdu over the past few days, but this won’t stop young jobseekers lining up for Foxconn summer jobs at the Foxconn plant in Chengdu. Thousands of people were lining up, and they were armed with rain gear and umbrellas, standing out in the rain just for a chance to audition. More photos after the break.

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70% of iPhone Production Now Comes From Foxconn’s Zhengzhou Plant (video)

Chris Chang, May 24, 2012 9:54 PM, 4,404 views, Got something to say ?,

We knew there’s a newly built manufacturing facility for the iPhone in Zhengzhou, China. And the plant cranks out about 200,000 iPhones per day. Here’s something we just knew today, and really surprised us. 70 percent of the production for the iPhone now comes from Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant, and the iPhone production line in the Zhengzhou plant is aiming to crank out 400,000 iPhones per day. Not enough? Here we have a video showing Foxconn CEO Terry Gou and a Chinese reporter touring the iPhone production line at the Zhengzhou plant. Video after the break.

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Tim Cook Visits Foxconn Zhengzhou Plant and China Telecom Headquarter !

Herman Lai, Mar 29, 2012 1:22 AM, 2,978 views, 2 Comments »,

We were surprised when Tim Cook appeared at the Apple Store in Beijing and met Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Certainly, he still has more business to do in China. Yesterday, Tim Cook has visited Foxconn plant at Zhengzhou ! This is the main manufacturing plant for iPhone production line, which has employed 120,000 workers. And this morning, he will be meeting China Telecom. More info after the break.

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A Cheater Has Been Murdered for Selling Fake iPhone (VIDEO)

Maggie Hui, Mar 5, 2012 8:34 PM, 4,920 views, 8 Comments »,

The tragedy was happened at the city of Zhenzhou, Henan province north-central China. A Chinese man wanted an iPhone so badly, he went to search for it in a local shopping district and met a seller who could sell him an authentic iPhone for a special price. After bargaining, the man bought the so-called new iPhone for only 2,000 yuan (US$330). Later he found that the phone is a knock-off and he tried to look out for the cheater. In the end, he found another group of people which were selling the same cheap knockoff iPhone to a young boy. The anger has driven him unexpectedly murder one of the cheater …

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