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 girls 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 advanced 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 advanced that the state authorities says is “exclusive” to 18,720 Foxconn girls employees. The multi-storey hostel buildings are situated near the iPhone-making plant.
The Reuters investigation printed in June discovered that Foxconn systematically excluded married girls from jobs at its foremost India iPhone meeting plant on the grounds they’ve extra household duties than their single counterparts.
Foxconn acknowledged some lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and mentioned it had labored to deal with 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 supply a “detailed report” on it, and his labour officers additionally visited the iPhone manufacturing facility to query executives. New Delhi has not but launched any findings.
Foxconn informed labour officers its foremost India iPhone manufacturing facility employs 41,281 individuals, together with 33,360 girls. Of those girls some 2,750, or about 8%, have been married.
It didn’t break down the staffing figures into particular areas resembling iPhone meeting, the place Reuters reported the discrimination was happening.
Foxconn in recent times 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 plenty of high Indian officers throughout his ongoing go to, and mentioned Foxconn’s funding plans.