Workers on a production line in a Foxconn factory in Chongqing, China. [CFP]

Foxconn Technology, a Taiwan-based contract manufacturer for Apple In and Hewlett-Packard, among others, announced that it would raise the wages for its staff effective on Feb. 1 at its factories on the Chinese mainland.

It was the firm's third wage hike since 2010.

The raise ranges from 16 percent to 25 percent depending on individual worker's position, responsibility and ability. Foxconn's Shenzhen factory has doubled its staff's basic wage of 900 yuan (US$142)?in 2009 to 1,800 yuan now.

Foxconn said besides the raise, it will allow workers more leisure time and reduce their working hours.

The move came after an independent audit carried out by American non-profit organization Fair Labor Association (FLA). Although findings of the audit were not made public yet, FLA chief executive officer Auret van Heerden said it found that Foxconn has "tons of issues" to deal with at its factories.

A senor industrial analyst Yang Qun said this wage increase was mainly stemming from the public pressure that demanded Apple Inc. to improve working conditions at its overseas factories.

China's manufacturing factories have been forced to raise salaries to attract skilled workers in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008.

Contact the writer of this story at: hes@china.org.cn.