If you're currently trying to order an iPhone 14 Pro (Max) from Apple, the manufacturer says it won't be delivered until early to mid-December. When the smartphone was launched, the background was its popularity, but Apple is now struggling with a COVID-19 lockdown at a Foxconn plant near Zhengzhou, China.
The China's zero-COVID strategy is currently making Apple difficult in the production of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max (test). In a statement on the availability of certain products, Apple announced that COVID-19-related restrictions are currently restricting the production of smartphones in Zhengzhou, China. The announcement states that the factory is currently operating at a significantly reduced capacity.
Lockdown is to apply for one week
According to Apple, the company prioritizes the health and safety of workers in its own supply chain. However, given China's extremely strict strategy, the company has no other choice. As Reuters reported in the middle of last week, the most recent lockdown has been scheduled for seven days since November 2nd. An entire industrial park is affected by the measures. Shortly before the lockdown, there was a curfew for the whole of Zhengzhou with its almost 13 million inhabitants.
Bonuses are intended to prevent employees from “escape”.
Foxconn's campus within the industrial park will operate as a “bubble” to contain the virus. Employees work, live and sleep on the premises and are thus sealed off from the outside world to limit the spread in the event of an infection. The strict precautionary measures recently prompted workers to literally flee the site because not enough food was provided for the bubble. Videos from China's social media showed workers climbing fences and walking highways.
Foxconn tries to keep employees in the bubble with a bonus system. According to Reuters, there are said to be daily bonuses of up to 400 yuan (55 euros) for staying in the bubble, after a maximum of 100 yuan was previously offered. There are also bonuses for workers who work more than 25 days at a time. A Nov. 1 notice to employees said the maximum monthly bonus would be raised from 1,500 to 5,000 yuan. Bonuses of over 15,000 yuan are possible for “full commitment” in November with no absence whatsoever. According to Reuters, a typical Foxconn employee earns between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan per month.
Apple expects longer delivery times
As Apple explains, the company is working closely with its suppliers to return to normal production levels while ensuring the health and safety of workers. However, Apple assumes that it will be able to deliver smaller quantities of the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) than originally expected, which is why customers would have to be prepared for longer waiting times.