India: Apple suspends relationship with Wistron after riots

Apple has decided to end its relationship with Wistron after the riots at its iPhone production plant in India. Employees ransacked the site in view of the working conditions. The low salary is one of the problems.

In a statement to the US press, Apple said be disappointed with Wistron’s behavior in India:

As always, we strive to ensure that every member of our supply chain is protected and treated with dignity and respect. We are very disappointed and are taking immediate action to resolve these issues. Wistron has taken disciplinary action and is in the process of restructuring its recruiting teams and staff at Narasapura. Apple employees, as well as independent auditors, will monitor their progress.

Wistron also reacted to the riots which took place at its factory which produces iPhone SE and iPhone 7. The subcontractor admitted that some workers did not receive normal wages. “It’s a new factory and we recognize that we made mistakes during our expansion”, explains Wistron. The group promises new protocols to ensure the management and payment of salaries. In addition, Wistron has initiated dismissal proceedings for one of the heads of the division in India.