There is some question over what sparked the Jan. 4 protest. Regional papers are reporting the dispute stemmed from a dispute over promised -- then retracted -- wage hikes and severance. Foxconn claimed the workers were unhappy with plans to transfer them to another business unit.

There also are questions over to how many workers took part in the protest, with Foxconn putting the number at 150 and other reports estimating between 100 and 300.

Foxconn factories have been plagued by worker suicides over the past two years, many by jumping from factory roofs.

In a statement to The Register, Foxconn acknowledged the protest took place, and said it was "successfully and peacefully resolved later that morning."

"As part of the agreement between Foxconn and the employees in question, 45 of those employees chose to resign from the company under the terms of a voluntary resignation agreement and the remaining employees chose to remain as Foxconn employees," Foxconn said in the statement.

Chinese blogger has posted photos said to be of the workers on the roof. The factory reportedly makes Xbox parts for Microsoft. Microsoft has not commented on the report.