Logo of Foxconn Photo: VCG

The Zhengzhou plant of Foxconn in Central China's Henan Province started another round of recruitment on Monday in preparation for resuming full production, as the city has been striving to contain recent outbreak of COVID-19. 

The manufacturer is "targeting full-capacity resumption in late November under the support of the government and clients," a source close to the matter told the Global Times on condition of anonymity on Monday. The source expected that the local COVID-19 outbreak will be put under effective control soon. 

The Zhengzhou plant is hiring people at an hourly salary of 30 yuan ($4.18) until February 15, 2023, according to a WeChat post from the company's iDPBG group, a major section for the production of iPhones, on Monday. 

To encourage those workers who left to come back to the plant, returnees who left between October 10 and November 5 will get a one-time allowance of 500 yuan.
 
The check-in time will be announced after the plant completes the "static management" period. Employees will be transferred under closed-loop management. 

The company said on Saturday that it would start point-to-point closed-loop management protocols for workers commuting between dorms and factory, with only three routes open during the period.  

A recruiter from the company confirmed the hiring to the Global Times on Monday. The closing date for the new round of recruitment is unclear. 

Zhengzhou has been speeding up efforts to curb the latest local COVID-19 flare-up, aiming to eliminate community transmission as soon as possible, the Zhengzhou Daily reported on Monday, citing local authorities who spoke at an epidemic control press briefing on Sunday. 

In response to demand from the Zhengzhou plant along with other social concerns, the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone conducted an in-depth communication with Foxconn and implemented 15 measures covering five aspects from livelihoods to epidemic prevention to provide comprehensive services and protection for company workers and ensure employees' rights and interests, according to the Zhengzhou Daily.

Apple released a statement on Sunday saying that COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily affected the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max productions in Zhengzhou as the facility is now operating at significantly reduced capacity. 

It added that the company continues to see strong demand for the two models but now expects lower shipments than previously anticipated, and customers will experience longer waiting times to get new products.

Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) said in its October revenue report released on Monday that it will "revise down" the business outlook for the fourth quarter from "cautiously optimistic" due to the epidemic affecting the Zhengzhou plant, adding that the company is working with the local government to deal with coronavirus, and to resume production at full capacity as soon as possible. Hon Hai reported 40.97 percent year-on-year revenue growth in October.