iPhone supplier Foxconn does not employ married women: report

Are you a married woman looking for a job with key iPhone supplier Foxconn? Then you may face challenges, according to a new report from the Reuters news agency. The report mentioned that Foxconn systematically excludes married women from positions at its main iPhone assembly plant in India. The report, based on accounts from former and current employees, revealed that Foxconn did not employ married women at its plant in Sriperumbudur near Chennai due to concerns about family responsibilities, pregnancy and increased absenteeism.

Reuters quoted a former HR director at Foxconn as saying he avoids hiring married women because of “cultural issues” and the “many problems” that arise after marriage. He then cited, among other things, having children as a reason for not employing married women, describing them as a “risk factor.” Some workers also drew attention to the traditional jewelry worn by married Indian women, suggesting that it could disrupt production and thus contribute to their exclusion from work.

The central government on Wednesday demanded a “detailed report” from the Tamil Nadu government after a story broke that exposed Apple supplier Foxconn’s practice of rejecting married women from iPhone assembly jobs in the country. In a statement calling for the investigation, the Ministry of Labor and Employment cited the Equal Pay Act of 1976, which states that there should be no discrimination in the recruitment of male and female workers.

Apple was quoted as saying that “when concerns about hiring practices emerged in 2022, it took immediate action and worked with its supplier to conduct monthly audits to ensure high standards are maintained.”

She emphasized that all of their suppliers, including Foxconn, employ married women.

Meanwhile, Foxconn quoted a statement saying it “strongly denies allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form.”

The Apple supplier further added that nearly 25 percent of its female employees were married during its last round of hiring, without specifying the number or location of employment.