May 5, 2024

Workers at Apple Supplier Quanta Riot Over COVID Restrictions [Video]

Posted May 6, 2022 at 3:52pm by iClarified · 4825 views
Workers at a plant owned by Quanta Computer, the sole supplier of Apple's high-end MacBook Pro, have rioted in response to oppressive COVID restrictions.

China has been imposing harsh COVID-19 lockdowns in an effort to maintain its 'zero-COVID' policy and Apple suppliers have been working to get around these lockdowns. The companies are implementing a closed-loop production system that prevents workers from leaving the plant and potentially contracting the virus.

This system has not been popular with some employees. A video posted by Radio Free Asia shows workers jumping barriers designed to keep them inside and getting into altercations with security guards.



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[Suspected of dissatisfaction with "closed-loop production" epidemic prevention is too strict]

[Quanta's Shanghai plant was shocked to hear that employees "rioted"]

Shanghai Dafeng Electronics, a subsidiary of Shanghai Quanta, which has just partially resumed work, experienced an employee "riot" on the evening of Thursday (5th). As seen in the video, hundreds of young employees did not obey the command, jumped over the gate and ran away, and rushed out of the blockade to clash with the guards. It is reported that employees are dissatisfied with the epidemic prevention and control and want to go out to buy civilian materials.
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UDN reports that the Quanta Shanghai plant "prevented employees who had resumed work from returning to the dormitory area during off-duty hours, causing employees to panic and worry about returning to a strict state of isolation and control. Therefore, the group rushed into the dormitory area to cause riots, mainly because of dissatisfaction with the strict epidemic control."

Incidents like these will likely create further disruptions to Apple's supply chain. Currently, Apple's default configuration high-end MacBook Pro has a shipping time of 7-9 weeks. A custom configuration could push delivery even further back. There are still some units in stock on Amazon but supply is scarce.

In its recent earnings call, Apple warned that supply-chain issues will hurt sales by $4 billion to $8 billion in the third quarter. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more updates.