Foxconn gets accused of denying married women work II VYGR

Following a Reuters analysis that disclosed that Apple supplier Foxconn rejected married women from iPhone assembly jobs in the nation, the Ministry of Labour and Employment said on Wednesday that it requested a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labour department. The ministry released a statement saying, “The labour and employment ministry takes note of media reports on married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India Apple iPhone Plant.” The Ministry of Labour and Employment referenced the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976 in a statement demanding the investigation, stating that the law "clearly stipulates that no discrimination (is) to be made while recruiting men and women workers."

The Details of the Reuters Report

According to a Reuters investigation, Foxconn systematically denied married women employment at its main iPhone assembly plant in India. The rationale behind the decision was reportedly that married women bear greater familial responsibilities than single women. However, according to the codes of conduct for both companies, Apple and Foxconn, employees cannot be mistreated because of their marital status.

In 2022, Apple and Foxconn admitted to shortcomings in their hiring procedures and declared that they had taken steps to resolve the problems. But all of the discriminatory acts at the Sriperumbudur factory, which is close to Chennai, that Reuters observed, happened in 2023 and 2024. The businesses ignored those incidents. According to S. Paul, a former human resources executive of Foxconn India,

"Risk factors increase when you hire married women." Paul further mentioned that Foxconn typically doesn’t hire married women because of “cultural issues” and societal pressures.

Not just Paul supported the claim, but four current and former Foxconn HR officials as well as 17 workers from more than a dozen Foxconn employment firms in India did as well. According to the Reuters story, neither Apple nor Foxconn answered queries, and the Tamil Nadu government office did not reply after working hours. As per the Reuters story, the hiring halts at the iPhone plant highlight the challenges faced by Apple and Foxconn in maintaining their professed global standards of inclusivity while extending their supply chains in this rapidly developing but predominantly conservative nation.

Apple denied claims of this kind of bias and mentioned that Foxconn hires several Indian-married women. "When concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022, we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld. All of our suppliers in India hire married women, including Foxconn," Apple said in a statement.

According to a statement released by Foxconn, it "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion, or any other form." It also mentioned that, in its most recent hiring cycle, nearly 25% of the women it hired were married, though it did not specify the number or where they worked. According to sources who spoke with PTI, Foxconn has contacted the government to make clear where it stands. Approximately 70 per cent of the workforce at the Foxconn facility is female, and the Tamil Nadu plant is the largest employer of women in the nation, employing up to 45,000 people overall during peak times. According to sources, the company has reportedly said that the media claim is based on anecdotal remarks from five to ten individuals, or prospective employees.

Inputs: Agencies

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