Foxconn to restart operations this week under 'rigorous' monitoring

According to sources, around 70 workers have returned to one of the 17 dormitories, that met the international standards lined up by Apple

Both Apple Inc. and its supplier Foxconn Technology Group released statements on Monday, assuring the implementation of a raft of 'corrective actions' and putting in place a 'rigorous' monitoring system' to ensure better living conditions for their blue-collar workforce.

The Taiwanese company will start bringing back workers gradually to its manufacturing unit at Sipcot Industrial Park in Sriperumbudur, which was shut down last month, following protests over a mass food poisoning incident at the plant's offsite dormitory facility. 

According to sources, around 70 workers have already returned to one of the dormitories that meets the standards laid down by Apple Inc. The plant will restart operations in a phased manner.

The protests drew attention to the plight of blue-collar labourers and triggered local government scrutiny.

Apple Inc. said on Monday the plant remains on probation, but that workers will begin returning as it ensures standards are met in both dining and living facilities.

The plant was placed on 'probation' by Apple Inc. after around 159 people were hospitalised due to food poisoning at one of the plant's hostels.  

“We have been working on a series of improvements to fix issues we found at the offsite dormitory facilities at Sriperumbudur and to enhance the services we provide to our employees. We have implemented a range of corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again and a rigorous monitoring system to ensure workers can raise any concerns they may have, including anonymously," read a Foxconn statement. 

"For the past several weeks, teams from Apple, along with independent auditors, have been working with Foxconn to ensure a comprehensive set of corrective actions are implemented at the offsite accommodation and dining rooms at Sriperumbudur. Workers will start to return gradually as soon as we are certain our standards are being met in every dormitory and dining area," said an Apple Inc. statement.

Although Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had stated earlier that the plant would restart operations fully on January 12, sources said it may well be a gradual process and is likely to happen this week.

For Apple, the issue echoes a similar incident in India a year ago, where it placed another iPhone maker, Wistron Corp., on probation, following riots over unpaid wages.

Foxconn has pledged to revamp its local management team and operations in the wake of the Chennai protest, and the Tamil Nadu government said the company had agreed to expand living areas, upgrade bathing facilities, and provide drinking water.

Apple’s most important assembly partner has grappled with labour issues in the past, particularly in China, where it makes most of the world’s iPhones, among other devices from laptops to tablets and gaming consoles for major brands.

The Taiwanese company, China’s biggest employer of private labour, began a sweeping reform of its operations after a spate of suicides in 2010 exposed harsh living and working conditions for the hundreds of thousands of migrants it employs to put together gadgets for foreign corporations.

"We will gradually begin to welcome back team members as each offsite dormitory becomes ready and is approved. We continue to support our employees and thank them for their patience as we work through the improvements,” Foxconn said on Monday.

For more than three weeks, a team of executives of Foxconn have been working to improve the facilities at each of its dormitories, followed by several rounds of inspection by an Apple-assigned auditor to ensure its global standards are met.

According to Apple Inc.'s global standards, not more than eight individuals are allowed in one dormitory/sleeping room, with not less than 3 square metres of living space per occupant. In addition, one toilet and one shower facility is needed for every 15 employees. Foxconn was under fire for allegedly keeping 25-30 workers in hostel rooms meant for 10, in addition to subpar dining facilities