Foxconn, a key manufacturer of Apple devices, has been accused of excluding married women from assembly jobs at its flagship smartphone plant in India, as reported by Reuters. This practice stands in direct violation of the codes of conduct for both Foxconn and Apple, which explicitly prohibit discrimination based on marital status.A Reuters investigation published on June 25 uncovered that Foxconn systematically discriminates against married women by rejecting their job applications. The company justified this by citing greater family responsibilities compared to unmarried counterparts as the reason for the exclusion.BreakingNews : केजरीवाल ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट से याचिका ली वापस #ArvindKejriwal #SupremeCourt #CBI #IndiaDailyLive pic.twitter.com/7YBV98SvvG— India Daily Live (@IndiaDLive) June 26, 2024The report highlighted that Foxconns main iPhone assembly plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, routinely excludes married women from job opportunities. The worlds largest contract electronics maker claimed that married women face more issues post-marriage, which influenced their hiring decisions.Reasons for DiscriminationFormer and current employees from over a dozen Foxconn hiring agencies across India confirmed this discriminatory practice to Reuters, many speaking on condition of anonymity. Agents and Foxconn HR sources cited family duties, pregnancy, and higher absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women at the plant. Additionally, the jewellery worn by married Hindu women was noted as a potential interference with production.Temporary Relaxation of PolicyThe ban on hiring married women is not absolute. During high-production periods when facing labour shortages, Foxconn reportedly relaxes its policy. Three former Foxconn HR executives revealed to Reuters that the company sometimes hires married women during such times, with hiring agencies even assisting female candidates in concealing their marital status to secure jobs.Verbal Hiring RulesS. Paul, a former human resources executive at Foxconn India, explained that the hiring rules were verbally communicated by the companys executives to Indian hiring agencies. “Risk factors increase when you hire married women,” Paul told Reuters. He added that cultural issues and societal pressures were among the reasons Foxconn typically avoids hiring married women, who are seen as having many issues post-marriage, including the likelihood of having babies.Company Responses and Ongoing IssuesIn response to inquiries from Reuters, Apple and Foxconn acknowledged shortcomings in their hiring practices in 2022 and stated they had taken steps to rectify the situation. However, the discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Sriperumbudur plant continued into 2023 and 2024. Neither company addressed these recent instances, nor did they specify whether any of the lapses in 2022 involved the hiring of married women.
