As millions of consumers line up worldwide for the release of the new iPhone 17, the human cost powering Apple’s supply chain has once again come under intense scrutiny.
At Foxconn’s sprawling flagship factory in Henan province, famously dubbed “iPhone City” hundreds of thousands of temporary workers are driving a high-intensity, round-the-clock assembly push to meet global demand. But behind the high-tech brilliance of Apple’s latest flagship, an undercover investigation by the China Labor Watch (CLW) reveals a grim operational reality: illegal labour ratios, systematic wage withholding, and extreme oversight.
According to the findings, temporary “dispatch” staff earn as little as 25 yuan ($3.50 / £2.70) an hour, while vocational student interns earn a meagre 12 yuan—frequently coerced into mandatory night shifts under threat of losing their diplomas. Beyond low pay, investigators find that workers face 75-hour workweeks, widespread surveillance, and severe wage deductions, charging both Apple and its manufacturing partner with systematically violating Chinese labour laws to churn out the world’s most coveted smartphone.
China Labor Watch conducted a six-month investigation into Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant between March and September in 2025, the organisation sent undercover investigators into the factory and conducted more than 100 interviews with workers.
Its report, titled Apple’s Supply Chain Dependence on China: An Investigation of Foxconn Zhengzhou, says the factory employed approximately 200,000 workers during the peak season for iPhone 17 production, with more than half reportedly working on a temporary basis. That would far exceed the 10% limit on temporary workers stipulated under Chinese labour law.
Wages withheld and extremely low pay for temporary workers
The report also finds that Foxconn uses its wage structure as a tool to control worker retention, effectively withholding part of employees’ earnings until later. Low basic wages, the report says, leave workers reliant on overtime just to earn enough to get by. Temporary workers earning 25 yuan (roughly US$3.72) an hour are paid in two instalments: the first, calculated at a basic rate of 12 yuan (about US$1.79) an hour, is paid upfront, while the remainder isn’t paid out until the end of the following month.
If worker resigns before the 25th of the month, the second payment is reported forfeited. This means workers lose overtime-related income earned over a two-month period . CLW argues that this clearly violates Chinese labour law, while the basic wage paid during these two months is below the statutory minimum wage of 20.6 yuan per hour .
Excessive overtime is another issue highlighted by the investigation. Most workers reportedly work between 60 and 75 hours a week — substantially above the maximum working hours permitted under Chinese law and the 60-hour weekly limit set by Apple itself. Student workers are reportedly paid only 12 yuan an hour. Some are allegedly required to work night shifts and overtime because their employment is linked to their graduation requirements. Both temporary and student workers are said to be excluded from benefits including social insurance, paid sick leave and maternity leave.
Extensive surveillance and intimidation of workers
The report also finds that Foxconn’s surveillance of workers extends beyond the factory. Workers are reportedly required to have their bags searched when entering or leaving the facility, while personal information and fingerprints are recorded in detail. The company’s information security team is also suspected to monitor workers’ online activity and retaliate against those who criticise the company.
Former employees who shared accounts harassment on Xiaohongshu and Douyin were reportedly threatened with further action and told to delete their posts. Their names and home addresses were also allegedly made public, highlighting what the organization described as methods of intimidation and suppression of dissent.
Verbal abuse and sexual harassment are also found to be widespread in the investigation, while employees who lodge complaints can face surveillance, threats and the disclosure of their personal information.
CLW said many of the problems identified in its latest investigation were still present – and in some cases had worsened – compared with its previous investigation published in 2019.
These include the alleged excessive use of temporary workers, wage-payment practices , and extensive information controls and surveillance. CLW said such practices not only violated Chinese labour law but also ran counter to international standards concerning forced labour.
The organisation called on Apple and Foxconn to comply with Chinese labour law and immediately bring the proportion of temporary workers within the legal limit. It also urged the companies to stop assigning student temporary workers to night shifts.
CLW further called on Foxconn to ensure that workers receive adequate social insurance, paid sick leave and overtime pay, and to establish independent grievance procedures and mechanisms for worker representation.
Photo: Steve Jurvetson