Foxconn workers make more money making Huawei phones than iPhones

Huawei’s recent return with the Mate 60 Pro smartphone has drawn the attention of the U.S. government due to concerns about how the company managed to manufacture 7nm Kirin 9000S 5G chipsets amidst the sanctions. Now, in a recent development, Foxconn Technology Group, a key Apple supplier, is reportedly offering higher wages to workers involved in the production of Huawei smartphones at its Shenzhen manufacturing unit.

Huawei seemingly pays more money to workers making Huawei phones, compared to those making iPhones

According to the report, Foxconn’s FIH unit, which specialises in manufacturing Huawei smartphones, has hired new workers at an hourly wage of 26 yuan ($3.60) to assist in assembling the Mate 60 Pro. This wage is notably higher than the 21 yuan offered to workers at Foxconn’s Integrated Digital Product Business Group (iDPBG), responsible for iPhone assembly.

“The new hires will know what phone they are making after the factory allocates them to different teams based on current demand, but these days, they have a higher chance of making handsets for Huawei,” said a recruitment agent.

This development comes at a time when Apple has been intensifying efforts to expand its supply chain to countries like India and reduce its dependence on China. As a result, companies like Foxconn have had to seek alternative production opportunities.

Huawei’s resurgence

Following the U.S. government’s sanctions on Huawei, it appeared that the company had no path to recovery. However, the launch of the Mate 60 Pro has left U.S. officials bewildered. This is because Huawei’s earlier flagship models, like the Mate 50 series and P60 series, were forced to use a downgraded version of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which lacked 5G network compatibility. However, just a year after its release, the new Mate 60 Pro, equipped with chips produced by SMIC, can access all 5G networks.

Furthermore, with Huawei’s plans to re-enter the global market, U.S. officials have raised concerns about the need for even stricter regulations on the company.