iPhone Maker Wistron's Expansion Plans In India Now Doubtful After Violence At Karnataka Plant: Report

iPhone manufacturer Wistron's expansion plans in India are now said to be doubtful as it has started deliberating whether to continue with the said plans following the violence by employees at its Karnataka plant, Business Standard has reported.

The company had earlier planned to hire 25,000 employees which the report claims has been put under review.

The Wistron facility in Kolar on 13 December saw its employees go on a rampage and take to vandalism over issues related to non-payment of salaries.

Violent employees raised slogans against the management, pelted stones at the office, shattered glasses, broke office equipment, and set the company's name board and two vehicles on fire.

Wistron in its complaint to Karnataka's Police authorities and Labour Department that the massive loss of Rs 437 crore was primarily due to the theft of thousands of iPhones, and the damage caused to the assembly line and factory equipment.

The Labour department has also claimed that prior to the violence it had not received even a single complaint from employees over wage issues.

It was reported in August that Wistron - one of the beneficiaries of the government's PLI scheme had planned an investment of Rs 2,900 crore to ramp up its Bengaluru facility. Wistron had also started hiring the required people for manufacturing the iPhones and also commenced manufacturing trials.