Foxconn Faces Scrutiny over Alleged Discriminatory Hiring of Women

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 23 January 2025

• Foxconn faces fresh scrutiny for alleged discrimination against married women at its Tamil Nadu plant.
• Allegations of excluding married women from assembly line jobs spark a new probe.
• Foxconn and Apple deny claims, but NHRC demands thorough scrutiny of hiring practices.

India's National Human Rights Commission has revived an investigation into claims of discriminatory hiring practices at Foxconn's Tamil Nadu plant, an important site for Apple iPhone manufacturing. This is based on reports that have surfaced against the company, accusing it of systematically excluding married women from assembly line jobs, raising grave questions about labor rights and workplace equity in the rapidly expanding Indian electronics manufacturing sector.

Despite an investigation initiated in mid-2023, the NHRC was dissatisfied with the outcome, which it described as riddled with critical gaps. Labour officials had reported that 6.7% of the plant's 33,360 female workforce were married but failed to clarify their roles or verify recruitment practices through hiring documents. The commission deemed reliance on testimonies from current employees to be inadequate, calling for a comprehensive review of recruitment records to uncover the truth behind the allegations.

Foxconn's Tamil Nadu plant is one of the landmarks of India's efforts to make itself a destination for electronics manufacturing, thus minimizing its dependence on China.Yet, these charges have put a shadow over the role of this plant in the government's plan for balanced industrial growth. Though Foxconn has been accused of relaxing its policy during peak production, such a practice, if true, goes against India's Equal Remuneration Act that prohibits discrimination between genders or marital status.

Foxconn and Apple have denied the allegations, claiming that married women have always comprised a part of their workforce. Foxconn further assuaged concerns by stating that it had instructed recruiters to eliminate criteria from job postings based on age, gender, and marital status in 2024.

The NHRC has asked the labor officers to provide a comprehensive, report of the incident within four weeks. It argues for need of more transparency and accountability. This order reiterates how increasingly intense corporate practice scrutiny is being greeted as India positions itself as global manufacturing leader.

As the case unfolds, it will serve as a litmus test on India's intention to enforce fair labor policies and safeguard her workforce.