Microsoft Investigating Mass Suicide Threat By Chinese Workers At Foxconn XBox Plant

Microsoft is investigating an incident at a Chinese factory where 300 workers reportedly threatened to kill themselves in a dispute over pay.

The workers, who manufacture XBox consoles at a Foxconn-operated factory in Wuhan, China, took to the roof and threatened bosses with mass suicide, local media has claimed.

XBox-maker Microsoft said that it is investigating the incident.

"Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue," a spokesperson told the Huffington Post UK.

"We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge.

"Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy."

The workers were employed at the Foxconn Technology Park in Wuhan in Hubei province, China.

Foxconn is a Taiwanese independent manufacturing partner to companies including Apple, Microsoft and Sony.

The unverified reports emerged from anti-government Chinese news websites. They said that the 300 workers took to the roof of the company's factory on 2 January.

The employees had asked bosses for a raise, but in response were told to either quit with compensation or keep their jobs at their usual salary.

Most workers apparently decided to leave, but the company did not hand over the money as promised.

According to the China Jasmine Revolution website, the workers were only dissuaded a day later when the mayor of Wuhan talked them out of committing suicide.

Foxconn factories in China have been the scene of several suicides by workers in the past, including 14 in 2010 alone at its Shenzhen plant, after complaints of low pay and poor conditions.