Foxconn closes China plant after riot

Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer by shipments and revenue, suspended production at one of its largest factories in China after a mass riot among workers.

The incident is the latest case of labor unrest at Apple’s main supplier despite the massive efforts Foxconn has made since 2010 to revamp the way it manages its 1 million-strong Chinese workforce. Foxconn said a personal dispute between several employees at its factory in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan escalated into an incident involving some 2,000 workers at around 11pm on Sunday night. “The dispute was brought under control by local police at approximately 3am this morning. According to police, some 40 individuals were taken to the hospital for medical attention and a number of individuals were arrested,” the company said. The Taiyuan plant, which employs 78,000, is part of the iPhone supply chain as it makes some parts but analysts said there would be no impact on the iPhone 5. The plant makes only very small quantities of casings and the company expects to resume production on August 25.