NEW DELHI, 29 December 2021, (TON): A senior official for the state of Tamil Nadu told media “a Foxconn iPhone factory in India at the centre of a mass food-poisoning incident will extend a week-long closure by an extra three days.”

The official said “the factory, which employs some 17,000 people, had been due to resume some operations on Monday but is now expected to restart production with 1,000 workers.”

He added that the state government had conducted inspections of workers’ hostels.

Last week, protests erupted after more than 250 women who work at the plant and live in one of the hostels had to be treated for food poisoning. Some of the protesters were rounded up by the police but later released.

The incident has thrown a spotlight on living conditions for the workers – most of them women – who reside in hostels near the factory which is located in the southern city of Chennai.

The official said ”the Taiwanese contract manufacturer for Apple Inc and other Big Technology names as well as 11 of its contractors including those who provide food and living facilities were summoned for a meeting.”