By Praveen Paramasivam
SRIPERUMBUDUR, India (Reuters) – Foxconn’s chairman on Saturday defended its hiring practices after New Delhi ordered investigations following a Reuters report that the Apple (NASDAQ:) provider rejects married ladies from iPhone meeting jobs.
“Foxconn hires regardless of gender, but women make up a big part of our workforce here,” Younger Liu mentioned through the opening ceremony for a hostel complicated for its employees close to Chennai within the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
“I emphasise married women greatly contribute to the efforts of what we’re doing here,” he added, making his first feedback for the reason that Reuters investigation.
Liu didn’t take questions from media on the hostel complicated that the state authorities says is “exclusive” to 18,720 Foxconn ladies employees. The multi-storey hostel buildings are positioned near the iPhone-making plant.
The Reuters investigation revealed in June discovered that Foxconn systematically excluded married ladies from jobs at its essential India iPhone meeting plant on the grounds they’ve extra household tasks than their single counterparts.
Foxconn acknowledged some lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and mentioned it had labored to handle the problems, however added that it “vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination.”
The story triggered TV debates and newspaper editorials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s federal authorities ordered Tamil Nadu to offer a “detailed report” on it, and his labour officers additionally visited the iPhone manufacturing unit to query executives. New Delhi has not but launched any findings.
Foxconn advised labour officers its essential India iPhone manufacturing unit employs 41,281 individuals, together with 33,360 ladies. Of those ladies some 2,750, or about 8%, have been married.
It didn’t break down the staffing figures into particular areas akin to iPhone meeting, the place Reuters reported the discrimination was going down.
Foxconn lately has expanded in India, the place it makes iPhones and merchandise for different smartphone manufacturers, and has plans to maneuver into AirPods and chipmaking.
Liu has met Modi and lots of prime Indian officers throughout his ongoing go to, and mentioned Foxconn’s funding plans.
