Angry Indian workers trash Wistron iPhone factory

BBC News reports Indian police arrested over 100 workers after a major incident at a Wistron production plant near Bangalore. The facility manufactures iPhones for Apple but workers allege they have not been fully paid for four months and are being forced to do extra shifts. Taiwan-based Wistron says it follows local labour laws. A trade union leader on the other hand accuses Wistron of "brutal exploitation" and claims the state government allowed the firm to "flout basic rights."

The violence broke out as about 2,000 workers from the night shift were leaving the building at Narsapura on Saturday, the Times of India reported.

Hundreds went on a rampage, ransacking the offices of senior executives, destroying furniture, assembly units and smashing glass panels and doors with rods.

Footage of the ransacking is circulating on Twitter.

1/4 #Violence at @Apple #iPhone production plant run by Taiwan-based #Wistron Corp at Narasapura near #Bengaluru in India
Nearly 2,000 employees, alleged not been paid, went on a rampage destroying the company’s furniture, assembly units and even attempted to set fire to vehicles pic.twitter.com/qtlHyJiRAh

— Crisbin Joseph Mathew (@CrisbinJoseph) December 12, 2020