Tech war: workers at Nexperia’s China plant fear being caught in dispute crossfire

Workers at a large Nexperia packaging plant in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan said they are worried about becoming collateral damage in a simmering political dispute between the Netherlands and China that has upended the management of the Dutch semiconductor maker.

During a visit by the Post on Thursday, operations at the factory appeared normal even as staff were aware of the power struggle between Nexperia’s Dutch management and its Chinese owner, Wingtech Technology, over control of the company.

Two workers said there had been no official briefing from supervisors about the dispute, though one noticed a tightening of shifts beginning this month – four consecutive 12-hour days instead of the previously more flexible schedule.

Another worker said morale at the plant was low and some colleagues planned to quit after receiving their annual bonuses following the Lunar New Year.

A Nexperia representative said that the company “has been keeping its global workforce informed about current developments”.

The Dongguan plant, which accounts for about 70 per cent of Nexperia’s annual output, has become a key bargaining chip in the dispute.