The Taiwan electronics company buffeted by a spate of suicides at its Chinese mainland factories said yesterday it will raise the pay of workers by an average of 20 percent.

The pay raises at Foxconn Technology Group had been in the works for months to cope with a labor shortage following the recovery from the global recession, said a company official speaking on condition of anonymity. But the official said the big jump in pay could help to lift worker morale.

"Feeling sad is contagious, and so is feeling happy," he said. "We hope the workers will have a positive attitude toward their lives."

It was unclear when the pay raises will be implemented.

The basic salary at the mainland plants of Foxconn Technology Group -- which makes iPhones and other popular gadgets -- is about 900 yuan (US$130) per month.

Ten workers have killed themselves and three have attempted suicide at Foxconn's operations in southern China's Shenzhen City this year, involving mainly workers who jumped from buildings. Most recently, a 25-year-old man slashed his wrists in the factory dormitory on Thursday in a failed suicide attempt. One additional Foxconn worker in the northern China city of Langfang also committed suicide this year.

Some people accuse the company of having a rigid management style, an excessively fast assembly line and forced overtime. Foxconn denies the allegations.

The company, part of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, is the world's largest contract maker of electronics. Hon Hai is owned by Taiwan's richest man, Terry Gou.