Workers at Tesla's Chinese factory have taken to social media to protest against the alleged unfair cuts in their monthly bonuses. The Shanghai plant, which serves as Tesla's main export hub, is facing criticism from employees who claim that their performance-related pay has been unfairly reduced. The workers are calling on Tesla CEO Elon Musk to intervene and address their concerns.
According to social media posts by people who claim to work at the factory, the cuts were announced after a fatal accident at the plant in February. The posts allege that factory managers cited the need to pay compensation related to the accident as the reason for the bonus reductions. Workers have expressed frustration at being penalized for the company's liability problems.
The cuts to bonuses reportedly amount to over 2,000 yuan ($291) per month for some workers, which they claim is a significant amount. This is particularly concerning for junior workers, whose monthly base salary is around 5,340 yuan ($777). Workers at the factory are also eligible for overtime pay and regular bonuses based on their performance.
Some workers have taken to Twitter, which is blocked in mainland China, to call for Musk's attention to their situation. They are urging him to investigate the arbitrary bonus reductions and take action to address the issue.
The Shanghai Gigafactory, which employs around 20,000 people, is Tesla's biggest car manufacturing plant outside of the United States. In 2022, Tesla delivered 1.31 million vehicles globally, with more than half of them coming from Shanghai. The company's financial results show that this figure was up 40% from the previous year. Earlier this month, Tesla announced plans to build a large battery plant near its Shanghai factory, doubling down on its investment in China.
Tesla has not yet responded to the workers' grievances or the calls for Musk to intervene. The company is set to report its first-quarter results on Wednesday.