Foxconn's production lines in Zhengzhou have entered full capacity operation, resulting in a surge in demand for workers. It is reported that 50,000 workers were recruited in just two weeks, and high salaries were offered. According to Foxconn, it is speculated that the monthly salaries of production line workers producing iPhone 16 during this period can indeed reach over RMB 10,000.

It is understood that Foxconn Zhengzhou has raised the hourly wage to RMB 25 per hour. According to online information, employees currently in peak production work up to 12 hours a day and can take 4 days off per month, resulting in a monthly income of up to RMB 7,800 before overtime pay. With overtime pay included, the monthly income could exceed RMB 10,000.

Foxconn also offers an additional bonus of RMB 7,500 to employees, but to receive this bonus, they must work at Foxconn for at least three months. This translates to an additional RMB 2,500 per month, easily exceeding RMB 10,000 in total monthly income, which is likely the highest income level for production line workers.

Foxconn is offering such high salaries to employees due to the peak production period for iPhone 16. According to Apple's quarterly sales, the fourth quarter of each year is the peak sales period for iPhones, with sales 60% higher than the other three quarters. Therefore, Foxconn's three-month stockpiling should be sufficient to meet the fourth-quarter demand for iPhone 16.

During the peak production period for iPhone 16, it is estimated that Apple is also willing to offer additional bonuses to Chinese workers. Workers in India and Vietnam have proven unable to withstand long hours of overtime, so the additional 60% of iPhone sales in the fourth quarter are largely absorbed by Chinese contract manufacturers. This is also related to the low proportion of iPhones produced in India and Vietnam, with the industry estimating that over 70% of iPhones are produced in China.

Apple has previously pushed for contract manufacturers like Foxconn to set up factories in India and Vietnam, but they have encountered various difficulties in these countries. An Indian consortium forcibly acquired Wistron's Indian factory, leading to Wistron's near-exit from the iPhone contract manufacturing market. Pegatron is also facing forced acquisition of its controlling stake, causing Foxconn to feel uneasy about investing in India.

Vietnam, on the other hand, faces resource shortages, particularly insufficient electricity supply. Factories like Foxconn and Samsung in Vietnam have been asked to reduce their electricity consumption by 30% and are even required to operate only at night, severely affecting the production of Apple products. Samsung has shifted more phone production to Chinese contract manufacturers, reducing capacity at its Vietnamese factories.

As a result, recent Vietnamese media reports indicate that Foxconn has packed up some of its equipment in Vietnam and shipped it back to China. Meanwhile, Foxconn Zhengzhou recruited 50,000 workers in just two weeks and continues to hire. With a peak workforce of approximately 300,000, Foxconn Zhengzhou is rapidly restoring production capacity, and offering higher wages undoubtedly helps to quickly recall skilled workers.

Foxconn's confidence in offering such high wages to workers stems from Apple. Apple's push for Indian and Vietnamese manufacturing in recent years has not been smooth, as evidenced by Foxconn's decision to repatriate equipment from Vietnam. This underscores the reliability and high quality of Chinese manufacturing. With high hopes for this year's iPhone 16, Apple may be willing to pay higher wages to ensure its production.

Facts have proven that Chinese manufacturing is crucial to both Apple and Foxconn. Achieving such high-quality, high-efficiency manufacturing outside of China is extremely difficult. Additionally, the Chinese market is now the largest iPhone market globally, compelling Apple to further strengthen its cooperation with Chinese manufacturing. Offering higher wages to Chinese workers is undoubtedly the result of their weighing the pros and cons.