• Source:Reuters
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The Centre on Wednesday said that it has asked the Tamil Nadu government to submit a ‘detailed report’ after news agency Reuters reported that Apple supplier Foxconn rejected married women from jobs at its main India iPhone plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, on grounds that they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts. 

The Ministry of Labour and Employment called for a probe and cited the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, saying the law "clearly stipulates that no discrimination (is) to be made while recruiting men and women workers." The ministry said that it has sought a detailed report from the Labour department of the southern state. It further directed the office of the Regional Chief Labour Commissioner to provide a "factual report."

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Apple iPhone maker Foxconn has responded to the report and informed the government that 25 per cent of its new hires are married women and its safety protocol, which requires all employees to avoid wearing metal irrespective of gender or religion, is not discriminatory, news agency PTI reported citing sources. 

Following a report by the news agency Reuters, Foxconn shared an informal note with the government, saying that such stipulations are not part of its policy and that these claims may have been made by those individuals who were not hired. 

According to the investigation by news agency Reuters, which was published on Tuesday,  Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone plant near Tamil Nadu’s Chennai, on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources interviewed by Reuters cited family responsibilities, pregnancy, and increased absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women at the plant. 

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Earlier, Apple and Foxconn reacted to Reuters’ queries based on its Tuesday report and acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said they had worked to address the issues. However, all the discriminatory practices at the Sriperumbudur plant took place in 2023 and 2024. The two companies didn't address the 2023 and 2024 incidents.

Foxconn said it "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form."

“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," Apple was quoted as saying by Reuters.

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