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About 2,000 Chinese employees of Foxconn Technology Group, which makes the Apple iPhone, reportedly rioted into the early hours of Monday, 24 September 2012, forcing the plant where they work to shut down.
As many as 5,000 heavily armed police may have been involved in stopping the disturbance at the factory in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, according to published reports.
Thousands of Foxconn workers from many parts of China live in massive dormitory-style complexes.
Reports indicate that no workers were killed in the riot, but about 40 were taken to hospitals. A number of employees were reported to have been arrested.
The plant reportedly reopened Tuesday, 25 September 2012.
Foxconn can confirm that a personal dispute between several employees escalated into an incident involving some 2,000 workers at approximately 11 pm last night in a privately-managed dormitory near our manufacturing facility in Taiyuan in Shanxi province.
The dispute was brought under control by local police at approximately 3 am this morning. According to police, some 40 individuals were taken to the hospital for medical attention and a number of individuals were arrested.
The cause of this dispute is under investigation by local authorities and we are working closely with them in this process, but it appears not to have been work-related.
The Taiyuan facility employs 79,000 people and manufactures automobile electronic components, consumer electronic components and precision moldings.
The riot is the most recent incident in a string of troubles at the massive Foxconn facilities.
Foxconn claims it has been working to improve working conditions and to raise wages.
“There is no dialogue and no means of resolving disputes, no matter how minor. So it is not surprising when such disputes escalate into violence.”