Another employee of Taiwan-funded Foxconn Technology Group committed suicide this week, bringing the total to six so far this year. In addition, two other workers attempted suicide since Jan 1, but they were not successful.

In response to this growing problem, company officials are planning to invite monks to the company to conduct a religious rite to dispel misfortune.

A 24-year-old woman killed herself by jumping from a rented apartment in Shenzhen on Tuesday night, becoming the eighth suicide attempt among the Foxconn employees since January.

This is the sixth time a Foxconn employee committed suicide by jumping out of a building.

The world's largest contract manufacturer of electronics said in a statement on Wednesday that it regrets the suicide of the worker.

The deceased, surnamed Zhu, died at around 7 pm Tuesday. A native of Central China's Henan province, she joined Foxconn in August 2009.

Zhu was on leave when she jumped out of her rented apartment at Shuidouxincun in the Longhua neighborhood. Her mother was visiting Zhu in Shenzhen after traveling from her hometown in Henan.

The police are still investigating the incident and no further details are available.

After the seventh suicide took place on May 6, Foxconn officials invited eminent monks to "release the souls from purgatory".

Liu Kun, director of the press office with the company, told China Daily, "The victims' families asked us to bless the dead and release their souls from suffering, and we will do everything we can to comfort them and prevent such accidents in the future."

Liu said the company has already established a management center to help employees maintain mental health. High-level officials in the company will give talks to the staff to "help them look on the bright side of the life time to time," Liu said.

Insiders said Terry Gou, president of Foxconn, wants to invite eminent monks from the Wutai mountain to release the six souls from suffering and make a blessing to a peaceful future of the company, Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported on Wednesday.

 

Company officials just want to release the "nervous emotions" among the employees and follow the traditional customs, Liu said.

Li Jicheng, head of the Shenzhen-based Dexiu Martial Club, told Nanfang Metropolis Daily on Wednesday that Foxconn asked him to help invite 30 eminent monks to the company within the next seven days.