January 10th, a strike erupted at a Foxconn production facility in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province, China. 3,000 workers put down work to protest dire living conditons and demand higher pay. Labour group Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) reports.

On 10 January last, a strike erupted at Foxconn in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province, China. Labour group Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) reports that all 3,000 put down work to demand wage increase and dignity.

The monthly basic salary of the Foxconn workers in Fengcheng is CNY 1300 (USD 209). On the basis of this salary workers cannot support themselves and their dependents. After the deduction for food and dormitory costs, the income workers can dispose of is meagre. Apart from the low wages, production line workers feel not respected. Occupational health and safety measures are lacking. The soldering workers, for instance, only receive one surgical mask every two days. Sometimes, if the shop floor runs out of masks, workers only get one mask per week. In the winter, the temperature in Fengcheng is as low as 3 degree celsius. Hot drinking water in the dormitory is limited. Until very recently, hot water was not availbale in the bathrooms. Workers could only shower once a week.

The 2nd day of the strike, over 1,000 workers took to the street and blocked the main road. According to information SACOM gathered first hand, alongside with media source in China, the riot police quickly intervened. The presence of the riot police using water cannons and physical violence to suppress the strikers.

SACOM calls the fight for decent working and living conditions by the Fengcheng workers 'necessary and legitimate'.

SACOM condemns the crackdown on the workers' strike and demanded Foxconn and Apple enter into dialogue with workers to address their grievances. SACOM points out there is no genuine worker representative system at Foxconn to respond to the workers’ sentiment. SACOM calls for the immediate establishment of a democratic union at Foxconn.

Read full statement by SACOM published on Janaury 11, 2013.