Indian labour officials visited the Foxconn factory near Chennai to investigate allegations of discriminatory hiring practices against married women. The visit followed a Reuters investigation revealing that the major Apple supplier systematically excluded married women from assembly jobs.
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- Indian labour officials visited the Foxconn factory near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on July 1.
- The visit was prompted by a Reuters report about Foxconn rejecting married women from iPhone assembly jobs.
- A five-member team from the federal government’s regional labour department questioned Foxconn executives.
- The officials are collecting information and have requested company policies, recruitment policies, and compliance evidence.
- Foxconn employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women, with 2,750 or about 8% being married.
- Labour inspectors interviewed 40 married women inside the plant, who reported no discrimination concerns.
- The officials currently have no plans to question Foxconn’s third-party hiring agents.
- Reuters’ investigation found Foxconn excluded married women due to family responsibilities, pregnancy, and absenteeism.
- The discriminatory practices were relaxed during high-production periods.
- Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in 2022 but did not address discriminatory practices in 2023 and 2024.
- Indian law does not bar companies from discriminating based on marital status, though Apple’s and Foxconn’s policies prohibit it.
