Foxconn ramps up recruitment efforts ahead of iPhone 17 launch, offering higher pay and bonuses to workers at its Zhengzhou and Shenzhen factories.

Foxconn, Apple's main contract manufacturer, is ramping up recruitment efforts ahead of the iPhone 17 launch in September. The company is offering higher pay and bonuses for assembly line workers at its factories in Zhengzhou and Shenzhen, with hourly rates increasing to 28 yuan and 26 yuan, respectively. Workers who stay for three months can qualify for a bonus of up to 8,000 yuan. Foxconn has faced challenges in recent years, including disruptions due to Covid-19 control measures.

Apple is bolstering its iPhone 17 production in India, a strategic move aimed at reducing its reliance on China amidst growing global trade uncertainties. The company is scaling up production through its contract manufacturing partners, Foxconn and Tata, in preparation for the September launch of the iPhone 17 lineup.

Foxconn and Tata are now assembling the full iPhone 17 series in India, including premium Pro models, at facilities in Hosur, Bengaluru, and Chennai. This expansion is part of Apple's plan to lessen its dependence on China for US-bound models, with Tata expected to produce nearly half of all iPhone models manufactured in India within the next two years [1].

The move comes against the backdrop of trade tensions, including recent reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump against several countries, including China and India. While electronics have so far been exempt from these measures, the uncertainty surrounding Chinese exports to the United States has driven Apple to diversify its production base [1].

Apple's investment in India is already yielding significant results. During the quarter beginning April 2025, the company exported smartphones worth $7.5 billion (around Rs. 65,200 crore) from India. This figure is expected to grow as Apple scales up its production capacity to 60 million units in 2025, compared to 35–40 million units produced in the 2024–25 period [1].

Foxconn, Apple's main contract manufacturer, is also ramping up recruitment efforts ahead of the iPhone 17 launch. The company is offering higher pay and bonuses for assembly line workers at its factories in Zhengzhou and Shenzhen, with hourly rates increasing to 28 yuan and 26 yuan, respectively. Workers who stay for three months can qualify for a bonus of up to 8,000 yuan [2].

This strategic production shift signals Apple's growing reliance on India, not just as a consumer market but as a key global manufacturing hub in its supply chain. The company is expected to unveil the iPhone 17-series on September 9, 2025, alongside its Watch Series 11 and Watch Ultra 3 [1].

References:
[1] https://in.mashable.com/tech/98698/apple-expands-iphone-17-production-in-india-with-foxconn-and-tata-units
[2] Foxconn recruitment efforts for iPhone 17 launch