TAIPEI -- As it attempts to counter angry public sentiment, Hon Hai (Foxconn) will raise workers' salaries by about 20% in China, according to several published reports.

The contract electronics assembler has come under increased media scrutiny as several workers -- the latest count is 10 -- have committed suicide this year and a handful more have tried.

A spokesman said the company has been considering cash increases for some time, but did not say when they might go into effect, Reuters reported.

Wages in China's southeastern coastal region have been rising quickly over the past two years, driven by changes in state law and very low unemployment rates.

Founder and chairman Terry Guo is one of Taiwan's wealthiest citizens, with an estimated fortune of $5.5 billion.