Indian labor officials recently visited the Foxconn iPhone assembly plant near Chennai to investigate allegations of discrimination against married women in hiring practices.
This investigation follows a Reuters report that revealed the exclusion of married women from assembly jobs at the facility due to perceived higher family responsibilities.
A signboard mentions the plot number of Foxconn India production unit at SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu) a special economic zone (SEZ) in Sriperumbudur on the outskirts of Chennai on December 28, 2021. Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images
Indian Officials Investigate Allegations of Discrimination at iPhone Plant
Foxconn, a major manufacturer for Apple, has come under scrutiny for allegedly instructing hiring agencies to avoid recruiting married women.
A former human resources executive at Foxconn India told Reuters that company executives verbally conveyed these discriminatory recruitment rules to their Indian hiring agencies.
Reuters' source indicated that the company believed there were numerous complications associated with hiring married women, particularly concerning pregnancy and the potential for increased absenteeism due to family responsibilities.
This approach, however, is in direct violation of both Foxconn's and Apple's policies, which explicitly forbid discrimination based on marital status.
News of discriminatory hiring practices has sparked widespread controversy in India. Human rights bodies and members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party have called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
On July 1, a five-member team from the federal government's regional Labour Department visited the Foxconn plant, the South China Morning Post reports. They questioned company directors and human resources officials about these practices.
Regional Labour Commissioner A. Narasaiah reported that Foxconn provided documents including company policies, recruitment guidelines, and evidence of compliance with labor laws.
However, Foxconn claimed that they are not discriminating against married women in their hiring practices.
Foxconn informed officials that the factory employs 41,281 people, with 33,360 women among them. Of these women, approximately 2,750, or about 8%, are married.
During the investigation, labor inspectors interviewed 40 married women working at the plant, who did not report any concerns about discrimination. Despite these interviews, the labor department has no current plans to question third-party hiring agents who play a crucial role in the recruitment process.
SCMP tells us that both Apple and Foxconn have acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and claimed to have taken steps to address the issues. Apple stated that it conducted monthly audits to ensure compliance with its high standards.
Apple Expanding Production in India
The scrutiny comes at a time when Apple is significantly expanding its production capabilities in India. In September 2023, Apple announced a $7 billion investment in Indian iPhone production, aiming to generate $40 billion in revenue over the next five years.
By December 2023, Apple revealed plans to increase its annual iPhone production in India to over 50 million units within 2-3 years, with further expansion anticipated.
