Foxconn replaces 60,000 workers with robots

After years of delays as it struggled to solve issues with its new robotic workforce, Foxconn seems finally ready to roll out robots on a large scale. The electronics manufacturing giant has been talking about this for years and now we hear it has reduced the employee count of one factory from 110,000 to 50,000 thanks to the introduction of robots.

Despite the stark loss of jobs at the plant, Foxconn claims the adoption of these new-generation robots will not result in long-term job losses:

In a statement to the BBC, Foxconn Technology Group confirmed that it was automating "many of the manufacturing tasks associated with our operations" but denied that it meant long-term job losses.

"We are applying robotics engineering and other innovative manufacturing technologies to replace repetitive tasks previously done by employees, and through training, also enable our employees to focus on higher value-added elements in the manufacturing process, such as research and development, process control and quality control.