Foxconn rewards top factory workers with vacation, iPhone

By Lin Yang

TAIPEi (dpa) - Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group is hosting 210 of its top Chinese production-line employees Monday on an all-expenses paid vacation to Taiwan, a company spokesman said.

The employees who work on factory lines in 17 different Chinese provinces and assemble products for Apple Inc and other global technology giants, will get to see their company's headquarters for the first time.

Foxconn chairman and billionaire Terry Gou is also throwing in an iPhone and 5,000 Chinese yuan (793 US dollars) for each of them.

Spokesman Simon Hsing said Foxconn went through a rigorous, 10-month process to select the exemplary employees.

"They had to have an A-rating or above on evaluation reports for three straight years, and be recommended by their union and their department," Hsing said.

"We even looked at whether they have respect for elders and love for the young. With almost 1 million employees, you can imagine it was a very long process."

The factory workers arrived in Taiwan on Sunday. Their 7-day visit will take them to many of Taiwan's top sites, from the Taipei 101 building to Sun Moon Lake and Mount Alishan.

They will end their trip on Saturday with a visit to Foxconn's headquarters in New Taipei and an audience with Gou.

"We want to make sure they have a great time. This isn't a budget tour," Hsing said.

Foxconn has made efforts to improve factory conditions since a spate of suicides and accidents at its Chinese plants in 2010-11.

An investigation by the Fair Labor Association in March found problems with working conditions in Foxconn plants, ranging from excessive overtime to health and safety concerns among employees.

The company has promised to reduce overtime and increase salaries by July 2013.

? 2012 dpa