A company in Henan province recently banned its employees from buying the newly-released iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, threatening them with the sack if they buy one, a local news website reported.

The company publishes a notice to ban its staff from buying iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. [Photo/HNR.cn]

The company located in Nanyang City issued the warning in an official notice signed by the company's administrative department to the staff, appealing to them to support homemade products, and boycott American and Japanese goods.

It said: "If you have so much money to buy the new Apple phone, you'd better spend your money to benefit the health of your parents and children. Do not work for such luxurious goods."

The notice has raised wide debate online after it was posted on Chinese social media. Some people expressed their understanding of the company's display of patriotism, while some said the action was invalid since it violated China's labor law.

An office clerk surnamed Liu explained that the purpose of the notice was to call on all the staff to pay more attention to their family instead of material goods. He said the company itself was further discussing the notice.

"For those who had already bought an iPhone 7, I think the company won't fire them," Liu added.

The notice was published on Sept. 18 because it was on Sept. 18, 1931 that the Japanese militarists staged the 'Liutiaohu' event as a prelude to invading northeastern China, unleashing full-scale aggression against China, according to Liu.

On this day every year, multiple activities are held across the country to commemorate this tragic moment.