The federal labor ministry emphasized that Indian law “clearly stipulates that no discrimination (is) to be made while recruiting men and women workers.” Neither Apple nor the Tamil Nadu state government has responded to Reuters‘ requests for comments. The BBC has also reached out to Foxconn and the Tamil Nadu labor department for their responses.
Foxconn, the largest supplier of Apple iPhones, established its first factory in Tamil Nadu in 2017 and has been aggressively expanding its operations in India. In 2023, it began assembling the iPhone 15 in the state. Earlier this year, Foxconn also partnered with Google to manufacture Pixel smartphones in Tamil Nadu.
Rights activists have expressed concern over the reports about the firm’s hiring practices in India, given the significant number of people seeking employment opportunities at Foxconn’s factories. Reuters reported that it spoke to numerous employees and Foxconn hiring agencies for the story, with hiring agents and Foxconn HR sources citing family duties, pregnancy, and higher absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women at the plant.
This isn’t the first time Foxconn has faced scrutiny over its labor practices. In 2018, a US-based rights group accused the firm of overworking and underpaying temporary workers at its factory in China that manufactured products for Amazon. In 2022, its iPhone factory in China saw protests from workers who claimed they had not been paid certain dues.
The Indian government’s request for a detailed report underscores the importance of adhering to non-discriminatory hiring practices and ensuring fair treatment of all workers, regardless of marital status.
