Exclusive: Promising thousands of jobs in the United States, Foxconn has relocated 155 people to Mexico

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – According to the Labor Department, Foxconn has relocated more than 150 US jobs to Mexico, even as it struggles to meet the job creation targets promised under the new plant defended by the United States. President Donald Trump.

The Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer said in a report filed in Indiana in November 2018 that it would fire 155 workers in a computer factory located outside of China. 39, Indianapolis, citing "changes in our business and production goals".

In February, the Labor Department determined that the jobs had been eliminated because the company had transferred part of its production to Mexico, as evidenced by the documents obtained by Reuters in connection with a request for the law on freedom of information.

Foxconn officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In November, the company told the Indianapolis Business Journal that the plant in Plainfield, Indiana, was operated by a subsidiary. The layoffs would have no impact on other Foxconn-related companies.

The 155 jobs represent a small fraction of Foxconn's global workforce, which stood at 988,000 by the end of 2017, according to its report on corporate responsibility.

But the company is in the spotlight for not having so far failed to achieve job creation goals in another Wisconsin facility unveiled at a ceremony at the White House. in 2017 and quoted by Trump as proof that he was relaunching American manufacturing.

Trump has threatened to punish companies that send American jobs to other countries and is currently pushing to impose tariffs on Mexican products because of an immigration dispute.

If completed, the 20 million square foot research facility and the Wisconsin LCD plant would be the largest investment in a new venture by a foreign company in US history , employing 13,000 people.

But Foxconn, formerly known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd., said it had reconsidered its plans.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in April that he wanted to renegotiate the deal, which would benefit from $ 4 billion in tax relief, as Foxconn is not expected to achieve its goals of creating new technology. Jobs for the state. Evers, a Democrat, inherited the project from his predecessor, Republican Scott Walker.

Foxconn said he remained committed to his agreement and the company's president, Terry Gou, met with Trump at the White House last month to discuss the project.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.