Employee unions at Foxconn India's Apple iPhone manufacturing unit are investigating recent media reports suggesting that the Taiwan-based firm is not hiring married women. Unions are currently collecting information about the recruitment process and plan to determine their next steps based on their findings.
"We are collecting the details right now. We will study the matter first, like, recruitment exercise and then decide our next action plan," a union source told PTI.
The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has requested a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu labour department following allegations that Foxconn is excluding married women from hiring at its large facility near Sriperumbudur.
An official from a manpower agency in Sriperumbudur, which recruits employees for Foxconn India, denied any such discriminatory practices. "We have not come across such allegations. We have selected both men and women irrespective of their marital status. If they are above 18 years and meet the eligibility criteria, we consider their application. In the past, we have selected both married men and women," the official, who wished to remain anonymous, told PTI.
In a related incident in 2021, hundreds of women protested on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway after around 250 colleagues fell ill from consuming company-provided food.
Foxconn's India operations include facilities in Sriperumbudur, Sri City, Tada, and research and development units in Bengaluru and Chennai, according to its website. The company employs around 25,000 people, with 85 per cent being women. "By introducing women to various shop floor operations, we have been successful in creating new economic opportunities in the region with our presence. Our aim is to work towards a world in which a diverse and inclusive manufacturing sector offers equitable opportunities and rewarding careers for all," the website states.
Foxconn has yet to respond to an email from PTI seeking details on the matter.