In the barren industrial town of Jundiaí in southeastern Brazil last October, thousands of workers gathered outside the local Foxconn factory in protest. But while stressful working conditions and long hours have sparked riots, and even suicides, among Foxconn’s staff in China , the gripe of the Brazilians was a little different: they did not like the food in the canteen.
Contract manufacturer Foxconn has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan in Brazil, which the country’s government says could reach $12bn of investment. Many of the plants make Apple products to help avoid import taxes on electronic goods sent from China, home to most of Foxconn’s iPhone and iPad factories.
But the new factories in Brazil, where unions are historically strong, have faced challenges. In addition to the October protest in Jundiaí, which employs 6,000, workers there have staged protests over everything from overcrowded transport to working hours and lack of career planning offered to employees.