Wistron Corporation’s
iPhone manufacturing facility in Kolar, which was destroyed by workers over
payment delays earlier this month, will be fully operation in next 20 days, Karnataka
Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar said on Sunday, PTI reported.

“I have spoken to
the company officials and they have indicated that in the next 20 days the
factory would be operational,” Hebbar told reporters.

Workers at the Taiwanese
contract manufacturer’s plant went on a rampage on December 12 over the alleged
delay in payment of salary and overtime wages. Following this, the minister had
estimated the damage at Rs 437.7 crore. He, however, backtracked later and said
the extent of the damage was approximately Rs 50 crore.

Hebbar also went on to
inform the Taiwan Stock Exchange in its regulatory filing that the vandalism had
not caused a significant impact. He added that the Karnataka’s industrial
policy has been simplified in order to attract more investment and create more
jobs for the locals. Hebbar noted that the government was employee friendly and
said it will make sure that the workers get their due wages on time.

He blamed the district
administration for not reporting the labour department or the public representatives
about the incident and said that the vandalism could have been averted, had it
been brought to their notice.

The minister further stated
that the management has agreed to retain the workers who were not involved in
the incident and will remove those who engaged in vandalism.